PLENARY DEBATE “Shapes of Jazz to Come”
Shapes of Jazz to Come (Atlantic Records, 1959) was Ornette Coleman’s ground-breaking record where he searched for creative ways to steer the past into an inventive future. This release rede ned the genre of jazz with his new free approach, leaving out traditional concepts of harmony and unconventional instrumentation. The record had great impact on international jazz development and beyond, and it was also a record with a strong political background. It came out of a crisis, and was sandwiched between two other important titles: Tomorrow is the Question! (1959) and Change of the Century (1960). Although this was a really di erent crisis, in a way it served as a reference to what we have experienced these last two years. Obviously, the pandemic had deep impact on the music industry and everyone is asking the question how far things have changed and will remain changed post COVID-19? What can we learn from this crisis? What kind of future can we built together? What better starting point than to have a good talk with the musicians themselves? So the plenary debate focused and re ected on the impact of the crisis with innovative composers, musicians and bandleaders: saxophonist Maria Faust (Estonia/Denmark) and pianist Alexander Hawkins (UK).
Moderator Helen Sildna, head of the Tallinn Music Week, started by asking the musicians how they are, to which Maria responds: “I am ne today. I have a short memory, which are a blessing and a curse. I am living in the moment and try to get over bad things.”
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