“Diversity” and/or “Difference”? – Jazz, Diaspora and Identity Politics through East European Perspectives (Documenting Jazz Conference, Swansea, 9-12 November 2023)

Documenting Jazz 2022 Swansea

Individual paper

Adam Havas (University of Barcelona, Spain)

“Diversity” and/or “Difference”? – Jazz, Diaspora and Identity Politics through East European Perspectives

Abstract

Based on the recently published monograph, The Genesis and Structure of the Hungarian Jazz Diaspora, the talk will explore various aspects of the tensions between ‘diversity’ and (cultural) ‘difference’ through a semi-peripheral, East European perspective. Based on sociologically informed case studies of Hungarian Jewish and Gypsy/Romani musicians who play(ed) a crucial role in the diasporic reinventions of canonical jazz aesthetics, the talk advocates for a nuanced view on jazz historiography beyond shallow oppositions between US-centric canons and (West)European notions of ‘emancipation.’ I argue that the conceptualization of jazz as ‘cultural practice’ holds the promise of attributing ontological status to ‘Other’ jazz practices hitherto ignored by discourses that are consecrated by Western academia. In conclusion, the talk aims to draw the crucial distinction between ‘class-blind,’ often essentialist discourses of ‘diversity’ and the geopolitically informed notion of ‘cultural difference.’

http://documentingjazz.com

VIII CONGRESO ULEPICC-ESPAÑA Madrid, 9 y 10 de marzo de 2023 Programa general 2023-03-10

Discursos de paz y justicia social en las músicas populares

Israel V. Márquez, Josep Pedro, David Álvarez, Joaquín Cardoso y Adam Havas

Guest lecture at the Department of Communication, Faculty of Humanities, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid – “Research Methodologies for Journalism” BA course 2023-03-14

Guest lecture at the Department of Communicaon, Faculty of Humanies, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid – “Research Methodologies for Journalism” BA course, 14th March 2023

“Jazz Hungría: Historia Social y la Escena Contemporánea.” Universitat de Barcelona,Facultad de Filologia i Comunicació, 2 March 2023 2023-03-02

Jazz Hungría: Historia Social y la Escena Contemporánea

Adam Havas (CECUPS)

First Spanish language presentation at the Universitat de Barcelona on the social history if jazz in Hungary in the context of my Marie Curie postdoctoral research.

The Cultural Politics of Europe’s Musical ‘Others’, European Popular Musics Research Group seminar (University of Leeds) 2023-03-15

The talk will outline the preliminary findings of my MSCA postdoctoral research which focuses on issues of musical socialisation, cultural assimilation, financial strategies and gender inequalities within the jazz scenes of three major European cities: Barcelona, Budapest and Manchester. These three cities are illustrative of fundamental changes in the way that contemporary music scenes in Europe are responding to challenges of globalisation. This is most apparent in the many hybrid musical forms being developed by Europe’s traditional (Jewish/Romani) and current (immigrant diasporas) ‘quintessential Others’ to express cultural identities.