Ben Axelrad wrote:
If I could piggyback on this thread....
I was wondering if there are any substantial ties between the improv musicians in Europe and socialism/communism. A week or two after purchasing one of Paul Rutherfords ISKRA cds, I came across the word ISKRA in Lenin's "Left-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder." Apparently it is the name of a pre-Revolutionary journal edited by Lenin, Plekhanov, and others. Anyone have more info (maybe Bill Ashline if he is still around)?
In Eastern Europe there were no ties between jazz and communism. Jazz was generally dismissed as "the degenerate music of rotting imperialism". In Poland before '56 jazz music has been played undergroung and this period is called as "catacumb era". After '56 ties were less strong and jazz was tolerated. But - definitely jazz music were free from any "red" inclinations contrary to the USA musicians (e.g. Charlie Haden, Paula Bley, Archie Shepp et al.) Yes - ISKRA (the Spark) was illegal journal in Russia. Jerzy