Coleman Hughes on Colorblindness, Jazz, and Identity
May 1, 2024
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Coleman Hughes discusses the implications of colorblindness in society, the intersection of race and culture in jazz music, and his personal experiences with lookism and ageism. They also explore music influences, political shifts in the black community, and balancing dual passions for optimal happiness.
Colorblindness should guide public policies and personal interactions to promote equality.
Mastering the embouchure is a key challenge for trombonists, surpassing slide technique.
Playing in Charles Mingus' Big Band enhances young musicians' growth and musical journey.
Deep dives
The Impact of J. J. Johnson's Perfectionism on Jazz Music Trombone Playing
J. J. Johnson's extreme perfectionism in preparing trombone solos revolutionized bebop music, setting a high standard for trombone improvisation. Unlike other jazz musicians, Johnson's solos on records remained consistent, showcasing his meticulous approach to playing. Modern trombone players benefit from studying his solos, making improvisation in that style more accessible.
Challenges in Playing the Trombone
While the slide motion is a unique aspect of playing the trombone, the greatest challenge lies in mastering the embouchure. The small muscles in the mouth and the coordination needed to effectively play the instrument are crucial. Trombonists like Coleman Hughes highlight the importance of embouchure control over slide technique.
The Experience of Playing in Charles Mingus' Big Band
Playing in Charles Mingus' Big Band provided a unique opportunity for young musicians like Coleman Hughes to engage with accomplished artists and learn from their mentors. The experience of sitting in with the band at a young age and sharing the stage with seasoned musicians contributed to Hughes' growth as a trombonist and enriched his musical journey.
Uniqueness of Charles Mingus' Music in Jazz
Charles Mingus' music stands out in jazz for its distinctive quality, creating a unique realm within the genre. Mingus's compositions form an autonomous island in the jazz landscape, reminiscent of iconic jazz figures like Monk and Coleman. His music blends elements of Duke Ellington's style with innovative twists, offering a refreshing and unconventional take on jazz.
Exploring Colorblindness in American Society
Coleman Hughes delves into the concept of colorblindness as a philosophy for viewing race in America, advocating for a shift towards treating individuals without regard to race. He emphasizes the importance of promoting colorblind public policies and instilling a colorblind approach in personal interactions. By challenging misconceptions about colorblindness, Hughes advocates for a more inclusive and equitable society.
Coleman Hughes believes we should strive to ignore race both in public policy and in our private lives. But when it comes to personal identity and expression, how feasible is this to achieve? And are there any other individual traits we should also seek to ignore?
Coleman and Tyler explore the implications of colorblindness, including whether jazz would've been created in a color-blind society, how easy it is to disentangle race and culture, whether we should also try to be 'autism-blind', and Coleman's personal experience with lookism and ageism. They also discuss what Coleman’s learned from J.J. Johnson, the hardest thing about performing the trombone, playing sets in the Charles Mingus Big Band as a teenager, whether Billy Joel is any good, what reservations he has about his conservative fans, why the Beastie Boys are overrated, what he's learned from Noam Dworman, why Interstellar is Chris Nolan's masterpiece, the Coleman Hughes production function, why political debate is so toxic, what he'll do next, and more.