Here’s a stirring presentation by playwright and performer Will Power from the National Guild for Community Arts Education’s 2011 conference. Power touches on several important topics in education and culture, and the entire clip is worth watching, but his comments on romanticizing the past (starting at about 8:20 into this clip) are especially insightful:
Jazz and classical lovers are perhaps more likely to hear, state or at the very least assume that their music focuses on “more important things” than what’s on the radio today. Yet as Mr. Power reminds us (and this blog tries to show), it wasn’t all Mozart and Louis Armstrong back in the day. Keep listening.
If you’d like to hear more from Will Power and you’re in Boston, stop by Berklee City Music’s Unsung Heroes Breakfast on January 19. More information can be found here.
The Pop of Yestercentury 