Reflections on History of Jazz

            Before taking Black Studies 14 this quarter, I was highly clueless of the rich cultural and economic history behind jazz music. Previously, I associated it with fancy hotels and jazz bars. By associating jazz music with high-scale entertainment and dining, I never paused to think of the historical roots of the music, nor did I consider the musicians’ background. The material Dr. Stewart covered in this class, along with the reading materials assigned, opened my eyes to the faulty nature of my ill-informed disregard for the rich background of jazz music.

            The word ‘genius’ is often used to describe the extent of certain jazz musicians’ musical creativity and incredible technical abilities, namely Charlie “Bird” Parker and Thelonious Monk. As a heroin addict whose music was highly influential to others, Charlie Parker’s ‘genius’ revealed itself in his “egocentric and voracious” (Dr. Stewart, 2/21/2013) behaviors. Charlie Parker made sure his self-indulgent desires became reality, using and manipulative those around him in order to so. In order to afford his heroin habit, Charlie Parker would steal from his loved ones — even those who had taken him into their homes, such as Miles Davis. Addiction has a strong link with mental illness, and Charlie Parker’s disregard for others also paints a picture that Bird had unhealthy ways of dealing with his feelings. In addition, Thelonious Monk’s image was that of a troubled, yet brilliant pianist. Thelonious Monk, who had bipolar disorder, experienced cycles of mania and depression (Kelley, 431). While it is difficult to argue that mental illness is conducive to one’s personal success and functionality, Thelonious Monk’s bouts of mania encouraged his musical creativity. Perhaps Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk’s mental-health struggles helped the musicians develop a strong coping mechanism and the perseverance necessary to become the legendary geniuses that they are now.