9.8.24 … "Solvitur Ambulando” - It is solved by walking, 2024 Labyrinth Walks, Hobart Park @ Davidson College - Davidson NC
“Music is a universal language that transcends boundaries.” - Wynton Marsalis
So driving up to Davidson, I thought that it was a little early for a perfect Davidson day. It’s still felt like summer because the trees were still fully green and leafed out. But the weather has turned. Today the high was 75°.
I came to Davidson to hear a lecture by Wynton Marsalis, the famed jazz musician. This was a lecture, not a performance. I arrived early enough for a quick labyrinth walk. As I entered the shadows of Hobart Park, I said to myself… “Maybe I’m wrong, maybe this is a perfect Davidson day.”
It was very cool under the shade of the trees, and there was enough sunlight coming through that I could see my shadow as I walked. The Asian themed fountain was going so I got to listen to the pleasant sounds of water. Can you hear it?
It was a short walk, and then I’ve ventured up to the lecture. It was scheduled on relatively short notice, so I’ll do not packed, I was pleased to see a good crowd. Before being in introduced by Davidson alum and trustee, Anthony Fox, a few students played some jazz pieces.
As Mr. Marsalis talked, I found myself translating. He was using the vocabulary of a black jazz musician brought up in New Orleans, academic music studies language, and academic sociology language. He talked about myths and mythology, he talked about being lost as an individual and as a culture, he talked about the connections of music across time, and space and families and cultures. He talked about the language of music and jazz in particular.
I made the return trek down I -77.
I am now searching for some other talks of Wynton Marsalis as this one was not recorded. Here is some thoughts that he touched on at Davidson:
Cultural identity, mythology, and jazz and the arts - Marsalis often highlights how jazz, as an ancient art form, embodies the mythology of people, emphasizing its importance in understanding who we are. Art serves as a bridge to history and heritage, providing deep insight into collective struggles and triumphs. He has noted that art, like mythology, helps us confront periods of loss and rediscover shared aspirations across time.
In discussing the power of jazz, Marsalis has also pointed out that while we sometimes lose touch with cultural traditions, reconnecting through art helps restore a sense of purpose and direction. This idea of being “lost” or detached from cultural roots is something he relates to the broader societal shifts away from authentic artistic expression.
Blessings on this fall day.