Jazz and cosmopolitan practice

The case of Lloyd Swanton

Authors

  • Benjamin Phipps University of New South Wales

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/jazz.36831

Keywords:

jazz, cosmopolitanism, Lloyd Swanton, cultural hybridity, Australian jazz

Abstract

Cosmopolitanism has increasingly been used as a concept to analyse and discuss the cultural and musical practice of jazz musicians. As an interpretive wedge for discussing the history of jazz, cosmopolitanism has been associated with the culturally hybrid establishment of jazz. However, definitions and applications of the term 'cosmopolitanism' remain somewhat ambiguous. In this article, building on the scholarship of cosmopolitanism in jazz, anthropology, philosophy and sociology, I use my ethnographic research with Australian musician Lloyd Swanton to identify certain practices and behaviours. I question how we determine whether a jazz musician's practices can be usefully described as cosmopolitan. I then examine the implications of identifying musical and cultural practice as cosmopolitan and the role of this term in identity formation.

Author Biography

  • Benjamin Phipps, University of New South Wales

    Ben Phipps recently completed his PhD at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in ethnomusicology and jazz studies. He currently works as an Educational Developer at the University of New South Wales in the Office of the Pro-Vice Chancellor Education.

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Published

2021-03-27

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Phipps, B. (2021). Jazz and cosmopolitan practice: The case of Lloyd Swanton. Jazz Research Journal, 14(1), 57–78. https://doi.org/10.1558/jazz.36831