Jazz Today, Jazz Tomorrow

The Future of Jazz¹ 

1.

Jazz, like the people, society, and cultures it reflects, is always evolving. While no one can predict with certainty where jazz is headed, jazz in the future is likely to include the following scenarios: 

a.

Traditional, straight-ahead, and contemporary mainstream jazz will continue to prosper. Up-and-coming young jazz musicians, inspired and influenced by blues, swing, bebop, and hard bop, will continue to push the musical envelope within the traditional acoustic jazz combo setting. 

b.

Big bands (i.e., 17-18 piece jazz ensembles) will continue to be prevalent in our nation's middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. Repertoire will consist of jazz classics from the past as well as new compositions and arrangements that will continue to be written in the future. 

c.

New styles of jazz will increasingly include more 20th and 21st century classical music and world music. The line between jazz and improvised contemporary classical and world music may blur to the point where there is no longer a noticeable difference. This style of jazz will be difficult to label -- rather than being called jazz, it might simply be called improvised music. 

d.

Some new styles of jazz will increasingly incorporate technology. Computers and electronic instruments that we have not yet imagined will become part of jazz's future. Technology will increasingly allow people to create jazz (or at least a jazz-like music) without ever having to learn how to play a musical instrument. 

2.

Jazz will be recorded and listened to on formats we have not yet imagined. 

a.

Just as compact discs (CDs) replaced vinyl records, and MP3s are replacing CDs, jazz will be listened to on new formats not yet invented. 

b.

Jazz will become easier for the consumer to obtain; already more and more jazz is being downloaded from the Internet. 

1.

Jazz will increasingly become a fixture in American schools at all levels from elementary school through college. 

a.

An increasing number of schools will offer jazz ensembles for credit. 

b.

Jazz will be introduced to and performed by even younger children (the trend has already begun as more elementary and middle schools add jazz bands to their music curriculum). 

c.

Jazz history, an integral component of our nation's history and culture, will increasingly become a major area of study in American history and social studies classes. 

2.

As more young people learn about jazz -- its musical elements, rich history, and cultural implications -- jazz will reach an even wider audience. 

a.

Since jazz speaks to the human condition and to people's hearts, it will increasingly be performed, listened to, enjoyed, analyzed, debated, and studied throughout the world. 

b.

Jazz will continue to serve as a reminder that differences between people are a good thing and, if channeled properly, can lead to a much greater good.