Greetings from Nairobi, Kenya. My name is Meredith Beal.  I am Sr. Technology Advisor for the African Media Initiative(AMI), Media/Technology Advisor for United Religions Initiative-Africa, and co-founder of Soto Koto Music. I would like to join big brother and mentor Herbie Hancock, UNESCO's Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, in wishing you a happy International Jazz Day.

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Jazz Day was established in 2011 by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to highlight Jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people around the world.

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Jazz, a true American art form, was pioneered by African Americans who explored the earth of their roots and combined elements from their experience in a new land to unearth a new music full of spirit, energy, creativity and passion.

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This new American music, steeped in the spirit of improvisation, exploration and discovery, revealed a new kind of human harmony in the world. Early pioneers of Jazz ushered in a new culture : Scott Joplin, King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstsrong, Dizzy, Miles, Coltrane, Monk ... and on and on.

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I cannot stress enough the importance of mentorship in propagating excellence in any field. The relationship of master and apprentice, mentor and disciple has profound potential to change the world.  Mentorship enabled growth of this new genre. King Oliver mentored Louis Armstrong, Jay McShann and Earl Father Hines mentored Charlie Parker who was idolized by Miles Davis. Roy Eldridge mentored Dizzy Gillespie. Mary Lou Williams mentored Thelonious Monk. Duke Ellington credits hearing a mentor play the piano for igniting his love for the instrument and the determination to take his piano studies seriously. All of these mentors were surpassed by their disciples -- the mark of a truly great mentor.

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Miles Davis created a powerful example by mentoring many young musicians and paving the way for them to become captains leading the world on the journey of Jazz. The disciples of Miles -- Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, Chic Corea, Lonnie Liston Smith, Leon Ndugu Chancler, James Mtume, Marcus Miller and a host of others, including today's Goodwill Ambassador, Herbie Hancock -- all have blazed trails, mentoring others along the way.​

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The spirit of improvisation so characteristic of Jazz is a human trait applicable to any situation. Wayne Shorter says, "Jazz builds our humanity in that it presents us with the challenge of not knowing what is going to happen. And not knowing what is going to happen is what improvisation is all about." He also said that improvisation requires courage. It also involves deep listening -- to others, to the environment and world around us, and to yourself so that you can respond with the most appropriate action, words and sounds.

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The ability to improvise is critically important in this age. As today we are faced with an unprecedented challenge, ALL have had to learn to improvise. Buddhist peacebuilder Daisaku Ikeda says, "Our times are increasingly troubled. A continuing series of unexpected crises demand our immediate response -- an improvisational performance of the highest level ..."

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Yes we have had to improvise and change things in fundamental ways. We also have the opportunity to reassess what we hold dear. What is value ? What is worth spending your time, energy, thought and resources on ? What drives your value system ? What drives your nation's value system ?

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Recent events have shown the folly of what many people value. Some have accumulated massive so-called wealth. Nations are armed to the teeth with destructive capacity beyond measure but can't take care of the basic needs of much of their citizenry in times of crisis, as has been made abundantly clear by the lack of effective response to the pandemic facing the world today. Technology has advanced but our humanity has not kept up. Where is the creative capacity beyond measure to take care of people ?

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So, as we celebrate International Jazz Day, in the spirit of Jazz, let's take some of the virtues of Jazz -- courage, listening, introspection, improvisation, collaboration and exploration -- applying these traits for 'the improvisational performance at the highest level' that is necessary NOW to elevate us above the suffering from our current dilemma, and discover a better 'us' on the other side.

 

The mantra of "I, I, I, and me, me, me,"  must give way to  "us, us us and we, we, we," performing together in this grand human orchestration to improve life on Earth. Join me in praying for the mental and physical health, safety, security and happiness of everyone in the world AND for the happiness and well-being of this spinning sphere of life called planet Earth.  And let's enjoy some Jazz today!

 

Asante sana, ngiyabonga, ngoze, jedejeff, e dupe, merci beaucoup, muchas gracias, je vous remercie, khxbkhun, xiè xiè, danke, domo arigato gozaimashita, thank you.   Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

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