Jazz and Communication

I like jazz. I like how it forces people to listen creatively. I like how it calls upon its players to be innovative in terms of trying to communicate their message, yet in a way that it both reflects their vision and attempts to resonate with others. I like how it gives musicians a starting point - notes and, at times, lyrics - to work from and then challenges them to make those fundamental starting points their own. Take the great Rodgers and Hart standard "It Never Entered My Mind" and listen to what Miles Davis does with it. The well known melody is ever-present, yet so, too, is the imprint of the interpreter. Miles Davis was a great musician and, not coincidently, a great communicator. Another great jazz musician-communicator was Eleanor Roosevelt. (At this point, I would like to challenge anyone to name another blog that links Miles Davis and this former first lady of our nation.)

How in the world can a comparison between these these two icons be made? To me, it is easy. Just as Davis did, Mrs. Roosevelt communicated quite profoundly with broad publics. Starting with the foundation of the federal government and its laws and regulations, this brave lady placed her own stamp on reinterpreting them in a way that bettered our society. She may never have tried her hand at anything written by Rodgers and Hart, but she was one of a kind in her call for greater social justice in America, her fight for integration, and her commitment to the rights of women. Though they may have worked in different areas, this particular man and this particular woman shared many of the right moves as communicators.

Building bridges between various publics is what effective communication is all about. It comes from having a sense of your audience, being creative, possessing a solid knowledge of the facts and guidelines from which you are working, believing in yourself enough to tell the truth in a manner that connects with all who listen, and encouraging continuous feedback. Good communication, much like good jazz, does this.