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Today in Jazz- Igor Stravinsky
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Igor Stravinsky
Today is the birthday of Igor Stravinsky. Although not often thought of as a figure in the world of jazz, Stravinsky is widely held in repsect by jazz musicians, and is considered to be one of the influences behind the changes in jazz in the post-World War II United States.
Stravinsky lived in the United States from 1939 until he died in 1971. While there, he came into contact with many of the jazz artists of the eras. He wrote his first jazz composition in 1946, the Ebony Concerto, for Woody Herman, but which was actually premiered by Benny Goodman in 1955. The Ebony Concerto was inspired by his encounters with the black musicians playing hin Harlem, thus the 'Ebony' of the title.
Although Stravinsky's writing specifically for jazz musicians was limited, his influence, especially on the bebop musicians, was profound. According to Ted Gioia's The History of Jazz, the great jaz saxophonist Charlie Parker gave Stravinsky's The Song of the Nightingale extremely high marks during a blindfolded test for Downbeat magazine. Stravinsky was also recognized by his contemporaries as being a source for the bop movement. Helen MacInnes wrote in her 1948 novel Rest and Be Thankful of Stravinsky being "the bebops' bible".
Throughout his career, Stravinsky was known for his innovative use of ryhthm and harmony, inspiring many of the bop musicians, such as the afore-mentioned Parker. For that reason, he deserves to be recognized for his influence on jazz as much as his much greater influence on classical forms. Happy birthday, Igor Stravinsky!
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