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Jazz: Cultural Diplomacy, Art or Show Business?

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By Anastasia Bogomolets
February 16, 2025
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Ellington briefly spoke about the philosophy he lived by–passed on to him by his old friend and composer Billy Strayhorn–describing this life path as: Freedom from hate, unconditionally; freedom from self-pity; freedom from fear of possibly doing something that may help someone else more than it would him; and freedom from the kind of pride that could make a man feel that he is better than his brother.
—Yoshiomi Saito, The Global Politics of Jazz in the XXth Century

There is a firm belief among scholars that jazz and the American Jazz Ambassadors programme played an important role during the Cold War era. Extensive literature explores the significance of jazz in shaping global post-war relationships. The world has changed dramatically since then. On one hand, music, including jazz, has become increasingly commercialized; on the other, unlimited access to free streaming platforms has significantly reduced governments' ability to influence musical preferences. Do you think we are entering another historical period in which jazz might once again serve as a unifying force that promotes freedom, or has it lost its political influence and become purely an art form or part of show business?

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