International Jazz Day | April 30, 2021
I was recently asked to contemplate the connection between Jazz and the Spiritual. Here are some of my musings. I decided to make a list of words that came up for me when I thought of what both Jazz and the Spiritual had in common – mystery, trust, and faith. As I pondered each of these words more and let their meaning sink in, I felt a few other words rise to the top as well which seemed to enhance these three keywords. From these words, the following thoughts emerged.
As a jazz vocalist who primarily works in the setting of a trio or quartet, I love the ability to move freely in a group formation. This collective of individuals holds the framework of great trust and allows each of the players to exist as part of and yet, apart from the whole, thereby being able to explore many boundaries. When I am engaged in singing a song in this setting, I can improvise and totally be in the moment because I have faith in my fellow musicians, faith in their ability, commitment, and skill. There is still a deep connection to what I call “the original thought” or “theme” of a song. This original thought or theme is always at the core of musical expression in jazz and is understood by all members of this musical collective, yet it is interpreted differently by each member. Because of these elements in a performance, the end result is always somewhat of a mystery as we are each interpreting the blueprint of the original song in myriad, subtle ways.
“Music, like God, is a phenomenon that is hard to “understand” on an intellectual plane.”
To me, this seems quite similar to how each of us embraces spirituality. There is a deep sense that we are all part of one body, one giant, universal collective, yet each of us hears the mystery of the divine voice in different and unique ways. To function as a whole, we must learn to trust each other and have faith in each other as well.
Music, like God, is a phenomenon that is hard to “understand” on an intellectual plane. I would say that music is best experienced by the senses, and as for God…perhaps faith could be seen as the sixth sense? And in the trinity of my original, “root” words, perhaps if we trust in mystery, we experience faith?
-Adi Braun | www.adibraun.com
Born in Toronto, Adi Braun grew up in Europe surrounded by music and musicians. Her parents were opera singers, and her father, Victor Braun, was one of Canada’s leading baritones. Her first instrument was piano, which she began studying at the age of six. With no formal voice lessons, she made her first pop/jazz recording at age 19. Following family tradition, Adi trained classically at the Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music. She began her singing career as a classical recitalist, a soloist with orchestra and on-stage in operas and operettas alongside her brother, baritone Russell Braun. In addition to her many musical roles, Adi teaches German art song at the Royal Conservatory of Music and is a German diction coach for the Canadian Opera Company.