"The Breakdown" is a webinar series that features poets and musicians in conversation with our Director of Education, Rebeca Mauleón. These artists delve into various topics related to our in-school curriculum and perform live, demonstrating aspects of their craft in order to shed light on the topics of each lesson.
Resistance and Liberation:
Personal Reflections on Jazz & Hip-Hop
Since our last episode, Jazz and Hip-Hop: Improvisation and Freestyling, people across the U.S. and around the world have taken to the streets in a wave of protests over systemic racism and police brutality. Amid the backdrop of the disproportionately impactful COVID-19 pandemic and campaign of intolerance and xenophobia by the current United States president, the recent state-sanctioned murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Amhad Arbery have catalyzed a global rebellion. In response to public outcry, the struggle for Black Liberation has been thrust to the forefront of public discourse. Traditionally African-American music - specifically, jazz and hip-hop - have been forged by social struggle, and have historically offered space for Black artistic and existential expression in the midst of a hostile society that has sought to dehumanize Black people. In line with this moment, the SFJAZZ Education Department will dedicate episodes of The Breakdown to honoring jazz and hip-hop, and their role in Black people’s historical struggle for freedom and self-determination.
For this episode, Resistance and Liberation: Personal Reflections on Jazz & Hip-Hop, we were joined by pianist Tammy Hall, emcee and poet Ryan Nicole, emcee and playwright Dan Wolf, and saxophonist Lyle Link, as they share music that speaks to our moment today and helped shape who they are as artists and educators.
From Jazz to Hip-Hop: Improvisation and Freestyling was moderated by our Director of Education Rebeca Mauleón and featured Jazz in the Middle Teaching Artists Tammy Hall (piano), Lyle Link (saxophone), and Dan Wolf (hip-hop artist).
FOR: Middle school students, educators, and anyone interested in learning!
