ABSTRACT
Examining the relation between jazz and popular culture inevitably runs into slippery semantics and the politics of cultural classifications. Musicians and critics have questioned the purpose of master definitions of jazz, and some even dismissed the point of the perennial question “What is jazz?” Its musical voraciousness explains its lack of a gravitational, identity core that neatly draws boundaries with other musical genres. Jazz has been identified with a particular musical sensibility, marketing category, cultural perception, and sonic structure. Its constant reinvention and plasticity have historically made any attempt to outline jazz essence and boundaries elusive. Jazz can swing or not, be commercial or not, be political or not. Jazz is an open-ended, multifaceted, ever-changing idea (Ake, Garrett & Goldmark 2012: 6).
