Mondo Jazz

IL JAZZ E LE ELEZIONI AMERICANE

Il 6 di novembre, data delle elezioni presidenziali americane, si avvicina a grandi passi e, come nella precedente tornata elettorale, molti jazzisti americani hanno preso una linea ben definita.

Ancora fa discutere la presa di posizione di Clint Eastwood a favore del candidato repubblicano Mitt Romney, ma praticamente si tratta di una eccezione: la maggioranza dei musicisti è apertamente per Obama.

Ecco il durissimo commento di Ethan Iverson sul suo blog Do The Math:

"I am for Barack Obama. You should be, too, especially if you are reading a jazz blog. If you have ever cared about race relations in America — and, make no mistake, the history of jazz is the history of race relations in America — you’ve simply got to be for the President. He’s hip, intelligent, and points the way to a more lenient and discourse-friendly future. Mitt Romney is not just a cold-blooded Mormon sworn to protect the rich.

He is the most recent product of a long-standing American tradition: powerful whites determined to silence smart black people. I’m convinced that the automaton Romney has a chance in the upcoming election only because upper and middle class whites are scared to take orders from a black man for another four years… I was shocked when Clint Eastwood came out for Mitt Romney. Of course, Clint is protecting his money. But I thought Clint liked jazz! He’s made enough movies with or about the music… In this moment, you can’t like jazz and be for Romney.

Jazz has always taught something profound about the American melting pot. Obama embodies that melting pot, Romney is its antithesis. I’ve really loved some movies that Clint starred in, but now they are instantly downgraded. Maybe Pauline Kael was right, Dirty Harry really was right-wing propaganda. As for his son: Sorry, Kyle. I’ve heard that you are a jazz player, but your dad blew it. I’m never going to check out any Kyle Eastwood music — unless you come out with a strong anti-Romney statement before November.

Un altro pianista, George Colligan, nelle colonne del suo blog Jazztruth non fa mistero delle sue idee e lo fa da un punto di vista non solo sociale ma anche da musicista:

Romney wants to cut all federal arts funding in America. Well, he said he would cut PBS, NPR, and the NEA. They would essentially be eliminated. If you are a musician, or anyone who likes art and culture, you should be outraged… I think that Romney, like most conservative politicians, likes to give lip service to things that sound good to their potential voters.

Cutting the arts, while not actually making a dent in the budget, sounds like wasteful spending to red state conservatives, especially the ones who love Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, and can’t possibly understand why their tax dollars should go to some East Coast Liberal choreographer who wants to put on a ballet inspired by the The Bay of Pigs incident… I’ve spent a lot of time over in Denmark. The Danish pay from 40 percent to 70 percent of their income in tax. They don’t mind, at least my Danish friends don’t: medical care is free, all school is free, mothers get 2 YEARS paid maternity leave (fathers I think get a YEAR).

Plus, they seem to be able to get funding for jazz concerts as easily as we buy lattes from Starbucks. Yes, it’s easier for Danish people to put on jazz concerts than it is for Americans to put on concerts here. They get paid for playing jazz, we play for tips. Or we “pay to play.” Conservatives love to call Obama a “socialist”. Well, I’ve been to all the so-called “socialist” countries. Why? Because that’s where the jazz gigs are happening. I’ve barely toured the U.S. in 20 years of being a touring jazz musician. I’ve been everywhere else. Maybe it’s because there is money for culture in all of these “socialist” countries. I think Obama recognizes the importance of music and art and education in our society.

Does Mitt Romney? If there is no profit margin, then I doubt it.