Apparently this organization “jazzmobile” has been around since 1964, when it was created by jazz pianist Dr. Billy Taylor, who, by the way, is still kickin it at 87 years of age(!). But as I tend to fall behind on many things, I just learned about it today. The story I listened to described this jazzmobile rolling into Newark neighborhoods, people parking it on chairs and forming a somewhat-impromptu concert. Sort of like a block party, but way cooler (unless the block parties you’ve been to trump the ones I’ve attended). Plus, there’s no arrangement to be done on the part of the neighbors, it’s organized by the non-profit and turns up as a surprise to many residents. People have a spontaneous excuse to go outside, sit, listen, maybe stand and dance, chat with and meet neighbors. All this, without the hassle or planning or travel cost of trekking it to, say, Millennium Park, and without the commercialism and irritating people-pushing involved in Chicago’s umpteen-thousand street festivals. I’m not knockin these things, as I go to the Gehry bandshell and the West Fests and enjoy them for what they are, but this jazzmobile is severely awesome.
It really is, just walk outside because you’re all, “What’s this jazz? Nobody blasts jazz from their car stereos driving around nowadays… Am I previous-decade daydreaming?” But no, you’re not, and you now have the perfect situation for actually meeting more neighbors than those you might already run into. I, for one, know a few of my buildingmates, some of the coffee shop folks, but that’s mostly it. I don’t consider myself to be a surly, holed-up hermit either, but there hasn’t been a block party or JAZZmobile getting everyone out and together.
Mobile things are ideal for really delivering, ahem, to the people. With high gas costs, busy schedules that don’t allow for entertainment planning, etc., it’s the perfect solution. Sometimes you just don’t want to plan. Reminds me of the puppet bike in the Loop, or even the meals on wheels trucks, which obviously serves a whole different caliber of need for folks. I think mobile street entertainment illicits a genuine form of surprise and interest. Maybe too, this makes people feel valued to have creative art (and, of course, human necessities, but that could be a whole separate posting..) find them, amidst their daily going-ons, interrupting and inspiring people to re-connect with their surroundings. In the radio story about the jazzmobile in Newark, it talks about the higher-crime neighborhoods really benefitting from the street music.
Jazzmobile, come to me! Or maybe I should organize something similar, perhaps, a karaokemobile for Chicago? A hip hop karaokemobile? Or would people just think it was a car stereo with a bad voice?
out of curiosity 