jazz diplomacy

CPD's roundup of recent moments in music and technology connecting cultures and societies around the world.

The latest episode of music diplomacy podcast Resonance, MPD Alumnus Jose Castillo sits down with CPD Faculty Fellow Nicholas J. Cull, founding director of the USC Master in Public Diplomacy program, to discuss jazz diplomacy and musical propaganda during times of conflict.

Men in Jazz, a multi award-winning jazz band from Hong Kong, was in the country recently to give a performance at the Youth Centre in the capital and as part of the final leg of their Asean tour. [...] For many of the Hong Kongers, it was their first time visiting Brunei. Some said that they would gladly return to visit the country again with their family members and friends.

The national capital is set to witness a convergence of top Jazz artistes from all over the world at 7th Delhi International Jazz Festival starting from September 23. Organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the three-day music festival will be held at Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri here. The Jazz festival will bring together artists from India and countries like France, Israel, Korea, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, and South Africa.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival began planning to feature Cuba in its Cultural Exchange Pavilion two years ago, well before then-President Barack Obama lifted the embargo against the island nation in October 2016. Since travel to and from Cuba has opened, there's a full slate of music, craft and cultural displays in the Cultural Exchange Pavilion tent, located between the Congo Square Marketplace and the major food areas.

This year's cultural exchange at The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival promises to be special. As festival producer Quint Davis put it, Cuba comes to Jazz Fest! Davis says it's a project that has taken time and resources. "We been working on this for two years," he explained. "We went to Senator Landrieu's office in Washington to say we want to do this. [...] We're bringing 150 people from Cuba. That means 150 visas and interviews, which has never been done."

The cultural relationship between Canada and China predates both countries. Canada is 150 years old. The People’s Republic of China, in its modern manifestation, barely 67. But known cultural connections between the two societies begin 158 years ago for British Columbia, when many emigrated from China, first to the Fraser River gold rush and then to build railways, work in the coal mines and build merchant empires.

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