The Rise of the Jazz Studies Movement: Institutional Politics and the Legacies of Bill Dixon and David Baker

Abstract

Leaders of the Black Studies movement in the 1970s emphasized the lack of Black cultural programming in formal education. This oversight created a significant gap in understanding the complexities of Black life, as aesthetics play a crucial role in (re)producing cultural spheres and shaping subjectivity. This realization prompted a struggle within college settings, leading to the emergence of the jazz studies movement. This article explores jazz musician-educators’ social, cultural, and historical context during the inception of jazz programs in the early 1970s. I begin by clarifying the relationship between Black music and higher education, followed by discussing jazz education at the university level. I then present two case studies of key figures in academic jazz studies: Bill Dixon and David Baker. Ultimately, I call for renewed attention to the hidden traditions of Black musical pioneers—those who consistently sought to broaden epistemic horizons within academia. By examining the work of these trailblazing educators, their navigation of complex power dynamics, and their contributions to Black music, we can gain valuable insights into contemporary issues in critical pedagogy and aesthetic education.