Ethnojazz in the Context of the Folklore Culture: Problematic Aspects of Hybridization

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of ethnojazz as a hybrid phenomenon that
combines folk melodies and the jazz style. The appeal of jazz towards the culture of folk music
has significantly enriched its expressive language and themes. At the same time, ethnojazz has
performed the function of preserving and popularizing folklore materials. It has been demonstrated
that the hybridization of folklore and jazz is an organic process because of their cultural-genetic
and procedural-effective relationship, among other things, in the aspects of live, real action. At
the same time, in the context of jazz arrangement of folklore materials, there arises the problem
of adequate perception of the true ethno-cultural meanings of such hybrid texts. Due to a certain
reduction in the geographic area of existence of authentic folk music, such a problem exists
even for the bearers of their ethnic tradition. For an audience that perceives a musical text which
makes use of melodies pertaining to foreign cultures, adequate understanding becomes even
more problematic. The solution to the problem is perceived in the formation of an attitude of a
purposeful perception of ethno-jazz music as a cultural musical entity which contains sensually
rich figurative-musical presentations of values, meanings and significations inherent in certain
ethnic cultures. It is proved that the acquisition of such competence makes the cultural identity
of a contemporary human being more multifaceted, meaningful and dynamic.

Keywords: ethnic culture, folk music, ethnojazz, cultural hybridization, live performance,
adequacy, cultural authenticity, ethnic sensitivity