The Preservation of Jazz

Introduced by Rep. John Conyers, Jr. of Michigan on March 3, 1987

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Opening speech at the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival
"Humanity and the Importance of Jazz"

NAJRI's mission is focused on jazz in three major areas:

  1. To restore Jazz to its rightful place of cultural importance and significance in the African American community, especially in the youth culture;
  2. To develop specific programs to take place within the campus and community of NCCU which will serve as a prototype for development of a circuit of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, where the greatest potential for future contributors to the Jazz legacy exists;
  3. To demonstrate the magnificent legacy of Jazz and all of the diverse elements in which it is rooted, including spirituals, work songs, blues, gospel, rhythm and blues, hip hop and the entire African Diaspora throughout Africa and the Americas.  Finally, demonstrate the reciprocal influence of Jazz on all of the forms in which it is rooted

Overview

The Institute’s impact upon the University will reach far beyond the Jazz Studies Degree Program in the NCCU Music Department. Jazz/black music plays an integral part in life by galvanizing people, inspiring people and uplifting the spirit.

At the core of Jazz Studies are numerous life lessons that may be applied across the arts and humanities to science and technology. Jazz lays the foundation for interdisciplinary collaboration with other learning programs such as team building, flexibility, change, innovation and improvisation.

Exposure to the creative process through residency activities, and its exposition in performance, provides highly relevant and effective information for students in all disciplines.

For those students who are pursuing jazz and music studies, the exposure to the jazz legacy through historical materials gives them a bridge to the metaphor of the organizational dynamic. They learn jazz is “improv.” Jazz is skill. It is complex and can impact the group dynamic. Jazz is life set to music.