Jazz Legacies

In this episode of The Brian Lehrer Show, host Brian Lehrer explores the enduring legacy and current state of jazz through a conversation with saxophonist Gary Bartz and Elizabeth Alexander, CEO of the Mellon Foundation. The discussion is sparked by a viral Oscars joke from Conan O'Brien, who quipped that security was tight because the opera and ballet communities were angry about being left out—especially jazz. This moment underscores a broader concern about the perceived marginalization of jazz, even as it remains a vital American art form. The episode highlights the Mellon Foundation’s Jazz Legacies Fellowship, which supports aging jazz luminaries over 62, including Bartz, Kenny Barron, and Donald Harrison. Bartz shares personal stories of growing up in a jazz-rich Baltimore environment, being inspired at age six by Charlie Parker, and his transformative experience playing with Miles Davis during the electric fusion era. He reflects on how music transcends labels like 'jazz' or 'bebop,' emphasizing that music is simply sound and expression. Elizabeth Alexander adds that jazz has deeply influenced her poetry, teaching her about rhythm, improvisation, and the power of unresolved endings. Together, they argue for the importance of preserving jazz’s legacy—not just as music, but as a living, evolving force of cultural and social expression.