Brianna kivugo ‘27
My mom, like any mom, always prioritizes my health, watering down my drinks for easier consumption and better gut health. So, as a kid, I always snuck into the fridge for one thing and one thing only: one hundred percent Hawaiian Punch. Its recognizable, pure, sugary taste always has me crawling back for more.
However, what if the idea of watering down rich food and drink didn’t only exist in a parent’s culinary expertise? What if the impulse to dilute found its way into traditional aspects of music?
The sole purpose of the creation of Jazz during the 19th century was for African Americans to maintain their musical traditions. The majority once broke free from the chains of slavery in a liberating way, yet society has largely moved forward, leaving behind traditions deeply rooted in communities of color. In the 21st century, society has unknowingly diluted once-traditional aspects of musical genres like jazz, gradually watering down their original essence. Ultimately, "Jazz music… [has become] more of a commodity than an art and the highest achievers were white” (“The Social Effects of Jazz - Department of English - York College”).
Jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie performs at the Boston Globe Jazz and Blues Festival on Jan. 15, 1966.
Bob Daugherty/AP
Commercialization is at the heart of the dilution or simplification of contemporary jazz. Recently, artists have been pressured to craft music that appeals to the masses and doesn’t resonate with their ideas fully. They have been compelled to create a “TikTok-ified” version of their ideas, which allows “listeners [to] more easily accept new ideas presented to them when they are accompanied by elements that they are already used to and comfortable with.” Artists are obligated to prioritize financial success over boldness in music.
Bebop Jazz and contemporary jazz, for example, display a highly contrasting sound within the instrumentals. Bebop used advanced harmonies, altered and extended chords, and intricate melodies that made Jazz recognizable within the music industry. In addition to this idea, bebop jazz also used a plethora of instruments to craft this genre, including saxophones and double bass. However, in contemporary jazz, its instrumentals are dulled, often only using a combination of acoustic and electric instruments. Contrasting with Bebop’s tangy essence in its songs, contemporary jazz doesn’t explore the possibilities of “sugaring” its drink but instead chooses to water it down.
Societal shifts in cultural priorities also lead to music’s simplification of traditional elements. “Too loud, too reckless — too ghetto” is a powerful and noteworthy phrase said by Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam at Kendrick Lamar’s recent Superbowl performance. These words alone explain the loss of tradition within music. His words capture how the industry pressures artists to conform, discouraging the raw, authentic expression that once defined genres like jazz. With the music industry prioritizing what’s normal and calm for mass appeal, jazz artists often fear being perceived as unappealing to the public, ultimately constraining creativity to fit commercial expectations.
But what if society ultimately wants watered-down Hawaiian Punch? Or better yet, what if we’ve grown to prefer water straight from the tap? As listeners can enjoy the more digestible alternative of jazz music, this causes an audience to miss out on jazz’s complexity. We end up losing the spirit of jazz's defiance, depth, and voice in trade for what is “acceptable” for society to listen to. It’s time to reconsider what we crave—not just what’s easy to consume, but what’s worth savoring.