爵士樂成為雋永歷史

Jazz gets a history

23 December 1938: Number 12 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of jazz music

Richard Williams  The Guardian, Friday 17 June 2011

Benny Goodman and his orchestra at Carnegie Hall, New York, 1938. Photograph: Frank Driggs Collection/Archive Photos

邦尼古德曼和他的樂團在卡內基音樂廳，紐約，1938年。照片：Frank Driggs收集/存檔照片

From Spirituals to Swing was the title of a concert at Carnegie Hall on 23 December 1938, marking the first time jazz had made a formal recognition of its own history. The concert, intended to present music of African-American origin to a mixed audience, was the brainchild of John Hammond, a scion of the Vanderbilt dynasty who had fallen in love with jazz during his youth. He worked as a jazz critic before beginning a distinguished career as an A&R man, and was also active in the civil rights movement.

1938年12月23日在卡內基音樂廳演唱的稱號主題是從靈歌到搖擺，標誌著首次爵士樂已經正式承認了自己的歷史。此次音樂會，旨在呈現非洲裔血統的音樂給各式觀眾，是來自John Hammond的創意，這位范德比爾特王朝的後裔在他的青年時期曾醉心於爵士樂。在他積極投入經紀製作人事業的職業生涯之前，他曾作為爵士樂評論家，也積極參與民權運動。

The concert, and a second instalment held on Christmas Eve the following year, were representative of his inclusive taste, featuring the country blues performers Big Bill Broonzy and Sonny Terry, the "blues shouter" Big Joe Turner, the gospel singing of the Golden Gate Quartet and the boogie woogie pianists Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons alongside the bands of Count Basie and Benny Goodman and many others. Having had his requests for sponsorship turned down by many bodies, Hammond eventually secured backing from New Masses, a periodical produced by the American Communist party. The concerts would be seen as a milestone in the presentation and appreciation of jazz.

次年在聖誕節前夕舉行的第二次的演唱會，是他的包容性嘗試代表，以鄉村藍調表演者Big Bill Broonzy和Sonny Terry，“藍色咆哮者”Big Joe Turner，福音團體the Golden Gate Quartet，爵士搖擺the boogie woogie鋼琴家Meade Lux Lewis，Albert Ammons與 Count Basie樂隊，Benny Goodman和許多其他樂隊一起為號召。在他的贊助商要求減少很多團體，Hammond最終從新的群眾獲得支持，由美國共產黨定期援助。音樂會將被視為是在演示文稿和欣賞爵士樂的一個里程碑。