Free Jazz of the 1950’s and 60’s and The Early Punk Rock Scene

Free jazz and the early punk rock scene at first glance appear to have nothing in common. Free jazz musicians were extremely talented, successful musicians who played intricate music. Punk rockers were novice musicians who played simple music with stripped down instrumentation. Although they are different there are many defining factors that connect both genres. Both were out casted by society, and challenged conventional rules of music. Punk rock and free jazz both gave rise to sub cultures and their music continues to inspire artists to this day (Gross).
The first punk rock scene began in New York City during the early seventies. Artists such as Patti Smith, The Velvet Underground, The New York Dolls, The Ramones, Wayne County, Blondie, and the Talking Heads performed frequently in the Bowery District, most reputably at CBGB’s an underground music club in New York (Hilly). In 1975, groups that played the fast, hard edged music that would come to distinguish punk formed outside of the city. Scenes were popping up from coast to coast in the United States. When the Ramones traveled to London in 1975 they played two shows that aided in triggering the young punk scene in the United Kingdom (Riley).
Free jazz today is a very general term, but when it first began in the 1950’s it was also called “avant-garde”, “energy music”, and “the new thing”. Free jazz is the result of jazz “avant-gardes”, tired of the strict boundaries of existing jazz, and wanting to push their creative limits(Gross). The evolution got its biggest catalyst, when winner of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2007 Pulitzer prize in music, Ornette Coleman recorded one of the most disputed jazz records in history. The name of the Album was Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation, and that is how the Free Jazz was coined as the name for the entire movement. Today free jazz continues to change and grow, as musicians push forward with new creative output and technology improves (Gioia).
Behind punk rock music there are important profound principles supported by anarchist political views, and freedom. The punk rock scene was an intentional response to the mass commercialism of music at the time (Riley). John Holstrom, founding editor of Punk Magazine remembers how he felt when punk was first starting, “punk rock had to come along because the rock scene had become so tame that acts like Billy Joel and Simon and Garfunkel were being called rock and roll, when to me and other fans, rock and roll meant this wild and rebellious music”. It was all about shoving music that wasn’t easy to digest down people’s throats. The sound wasn’t necessarily about the music; it was more about the artist’s ability to express themselves. Punk rock portrayed its anti-establishment mentality in their sound, lyrics, and appearance. An associate from The Clash gave an outline of singer Joe Strummers outlook “punk rock is meant to be our freedom. We’re meant to be able to do what we want to do”. Punk Rock wasn’t all about rebelling; against authority the punk rock scene took on a do it yourself philosophy. Bands were producing, recording, and distributing their own albums(Riley).
Much like punk rock, free jazz also had founding principles which drove musicians to create such unique music. Free Jazz used virtually no harmony. Harmony was considered western, Free jazz musicians were trying to reconnect with their own African roots. “For some musicians the reclamation of Africa encompassed not only specific musical techniques, but also the recovery of a lost affinity with a wide musical and cultural tradition” (Ward 152).
Punk rock music was no bullshit rock and roll. Generally the musicians playing were amateur, the music was more about expressing their opinion. Since they didn’t know the rules of music, they were able to break them. The songs were short, and in your face. The lyrics were uninhibited, aggressive, and commonly remarked on social and political issues. Generally punk bands had one or two electric guitars, and electric base, a drum set, and vocals. The vocals in punk rock are commonly screamed and not sung, and in distinguished by a lack of change in pitch, volume, or tone(Riley).
In free Jazz improvisation is essential. This music is generally performed by a small group of musicians. It is a largely instrumental genre, although there are a few important jazz vocalists who made substantial contributions to free jazz. Jarring sounds are made by the musician over-blowing into their instrument. Conventional forms of jazz used standard meters, and 4/4 rhythms, where as Free Jazz kept a general pulse but swung more freely(Latimer).
The punk rock subculture exhibited itself through a variety of medias including music, ideologies, fashion, visual art, literature, film, and lifestyle. The subculture was predominantly white males, who came from a wide variety of backgrounds. Drugs were often used in the punk scene with the exception of the straight edge movement. Violence has also appeared in punk rock. The punk rock subculture was influenced by a diverse spectrum of authors, literature, and art. Punk fashion was another way to shock society using dramatic clothing, hairstyles, make up, body art, jewelry, and body modification. The punk rock movement has had a huge impact on art as well. Punk rock art is usually displayed on album covers, show flyers, and on the covers of music magazines. The entire appearance of punk was created to perplex, and unsettle those in society who were content in their feelings of security. With the strong philosophies of punk emerged an ample amount of literature, which is as assorted as punk itself. It has impacted the widespread transgression fiction genre and has also influenced science fiction (Riley).
Free Jazz was never developed a large following quite like punk rock. Free Jazz music did not show a great commercial potential. Amiri Baraka wrote essays that were published in Jazz magazines about free jazz “to promote ideas for circumventing the lack of exposure free jazz musicians were suffering” (Ward 155). Many of her ideas are ideas including “coffee shop gigs, cooperative jazz clubs, and do it yourself record distribution were eventually carried into the punk rock culture, and are a part of what made it so huge. Although it did create a subculture of sorts, and created a small following. With Free jazz emerged a collection of clubs, record labels, and listeners that helped the genre grow (Ward 152).
Free jazz and the early punk movement, have much more in common than you might imagine. Both movements were inspired by musicians that wanted to push the limits of their creativity. They went forward with their visions despite what critics, and society said. Their music, and lifestyles have made their mark in history, forever.


Works Cited
Gioia, Ted. “Where Did Our Revolution Go? Free Jazz Turns Fifty.” Jazz.com. 25 Feb. 2009 .
Gross, Jason. “The Jazz-Punk Connection.” Perfect Sound Forever. July 1996. 22 Feb. 2009 .
Kristal, Hilly. “History of CBGB.” CBGC. 24 Feb. 2009 .
Latimer, Joey. Radio Free Jazz. 25 Feb. 2009 .
Riley, Julia. “The DIY Work Ethic and the Punk Rock Subculture.” Associated Content. 1 Nov. 2005. 26 Feb. 2009 .
Ward, Brian, ed. Media, Culture, and the Modern African American Freedom Struggle. Florida:
University Press of Florida, 2003.

Personal Narrative

Even though I wasn’t going to be walking across the stage that day, it felt like I had reached a huge milestone in my life. I’ll never forget how much greener the grass seemed that day. The sun reflected off of the gold and silver robes that the graduates were wearing. Chris held my clammy hand as we walked down the rows of chairs that had been set up there. The struggle to keep my emotions under control got more difficult with each passing moment. No one thought we could get this far, no one thought there would ever be a Charter School Graduation, and no one would have ever believed that there would be 100% graduation rate, and college acceptance. All the seniors were lined up in front of the audience the multi-colored sashes they were wearing made a rainbow. Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing marked the beginning of the ceremonies and as Steve Perry sang about that lost, and lonely girl riding the midnight train, I couldn’t help but to reflect on how this place had helped me on my own journey.

Great Bay e-Learning Charter School was the first risk I ever took. Everyone thought that Charter school was the place where the kids who were trouble went to school so they could get off easy. My friends thought I was crazy, my family thought I was selling myself short, and my teachers just shook their head. Despite the lack of support around me, I knew I needed a big change my life before something snapped. I read the article in the newspaper, and two days later I had set up a shadow day. The day I went to visit I wore my only sweatshirt, I wore it every day. It was warm outside, and I was sweating but decided to keep it on despite the temperature. I opened the door, and was instantly greeted with hugs, curiosity, and acceptance. A huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders, because I knew this was the place I was meant to be. Charter school was my utopia.

Much like me at the time, Charter School was an outcast. So when I made the decision to come to Charter School I was discarded by my friends. I was alone, and that scared me but I knew it was the right decision for me. Dressed in the brand new outfit my mom had bought me at the mall, I felt confident going to my new school on the first day. No sooner had I entered the building, I realized there was a giant obstacle between me and my utopia. The moat barricading the only entrance to my safe haven was a river filled with Exeter High School students. Crossing that hallway meant the possibility of making eye contact with the people that I had escaped. Memories of the humiliation I had endured over the past three years flooded my mind. Knowing there was a family waiting for me on the other side of the hallway gave me the courage I needed to bear the rough waters.

Self-assured I made my way across the hall to the staircase that led down into charter school. The staircase seemed secret almost forbidden. There was only a little light and the air smelt like damp clothes. As soon as you opened the door though, your senses were bombarded with stimulation. The walls were covered with student’s art, a boy was skateboarding down a hallway, and in the coat room there were a bunch of kids jamming. A teacher behind me yelled “NO CLUMPING!” “Clumping” is a behavior that can be observed commonly in most high schools. It is the act of “clumping” together in a small group, separating yourself from the rest of your peers. This action was highly discouraged at charter school.

In Charter School we were most commonly referred to as “Raybe”. When I say we I mean me and Raya. We got the name after we joined the football club, and it really stuck. In Charter school students were encouraged to pursue their interests, and start clubs; there was every club from skateboarding, to knitting, to zombie movies, to math team. Raya and I decided to create our own club one day. Inspired by the movie directed by David Fincher, we started our own “Fight Club”. We would both take our stances on opposite walls, bursting with anticipation and bubbly, contagious laughter. As soon as the elevator doors shut the clock would start. “DING! DING! DING! We would both tickle each other furiously until the doors opened once again, or until our tummy’s hurt from laughing so hard.

Raya taught me to be passionate about my education. She would spend hours editing, rewriting, and changing assignments that had already been assessed for exemplary grades. Her Intense eagerness to learn more made me strive to better myself. Our motto was “go all out or don’t go at all”, and we used this mantra to define everything we did together, she was my partner in everything. We teamed up on every project, and even started a band, Contaminated US. When we weren’t working on school, or causing some sort of trouble, you could find us lying in the grass, coloring and listening to an IPod. We became completely dependent on each other. Eventually we would have to step out and learn how to be great on our own.

At charter school our competencies were not accessed by tests or quizzes but by projects. Each year there was a giant project that was exhibited to the public, our parents, and important members of the SAU 16. There was a lot of pressure to do well because it integrated into every subject area and failing the project meant, your grade went down in every class. This year the exhibition night project was a group project, called “World’s Fair”, and when we received the group assignments, Raya and I were unhappy to say the least. We were assigned to separate groups, and if that wasn’t terrible enough, we were both project managers. The two of us were so used to being “Raybe”, that being to be independent of each other seemed like taking the cane from a cripple. Although the task seemed daunting, we had no choice but to take the lunge. Being separated from Raya was a very intimidating, but it was one of the best things that could ever happen. Taking the lead on a project gave me a huge amount of confidence. Knowing I could achieve something excellent, on my own made me feel fulfilled, and independent. I no longer had to hide behind my sweatshirt, or behind Raya, I felt like I could finally step out on my own.

All of a sudden the sea of Exeter high school students I crossed every morning, was less like a rushing river, and more like a puddle you stomp in after a spring rain. As I watched as the herd crossing the field between the Annex and the main building, I felt privileged to be free and not be led from place to place, following the same path as the person in front of me. Charter school enabled me to unearth a deep wealthy knowledge of a topic instead of having a shallow understanding of a textbook page I had duplicated. It was never about memorization, and repetition. It was always about discussion, questions, and personalization. Self expression was encouraged and that was apparent everywhere you looked. There was a sense of community that you could not be described.

The late day sun was beaming, and the warm light touching my skin seemed to mimic the pride that was I was exuding. I still hadn’t accepted that three years had passed since the first time I tentatively stepped foot into charter school, and in one more I would be graduating too. The memories that flooded my conscious, were so many that I could fill a book, and the lessons I learned will stay with me forever. In my future endeavors, I will always know that in Exeter I have a family.