Abstract

Can musical genres like jazz have a political connotation? The article describes the relationship between jazz and racism during the first half of the twentieth century. It dwells on attempts to use jazz as soft power in the Cold War. Finally, it discusses Lebensgefühl in its relation to aesthetic judgment and the cultural and political relevance of such judgment. Historical evidence suggests that although the links between the aesthetics of jazz and politics are strong, it is impossible to establish a universal relationship of affinity or incompatibility between single political constellations and this genre of music. Along the twentieth century, the political connotation of jazz remained subject to transience and contingency