ESSAYS
This section includes essays on various jazz subjects, written by a number of writers. Contributions are welcome. Writers interested in contributing are welcome to contact the editor by filling out the form in the CONTACT tab. Photographs to illustrate those essays are welcome. Readers can click on the INDEX button for a list of articles in this folder.
John Zorn
THE PATH OF JAZZ FROM THE STRING QUARTET TO THE OPERA
by Ian Muldoon
July 15, 2025
“A rationalisation is more important than sex. I know because I can do without sex for a day” reasons the Jeff Goldblum character in the 1983 film The Big Chill. Perhaps there’s a similar saying about metaphors. Robert Frost wrote about the road not taken, in his iconic and wildly popular eponymous poem. Metaphors are scattered willy nilly in everyday English. My “path” in the world of music led me to the most important music of the 20th century - jazz - and it was this music which was my gate to completeness. I’m curious now about the path that led me through that gate. Instinctively it must be related to the notion of freedom. Like many if not most of my generation being a “free” child was commonplace…