Jazz Diplomacy
A Presentation by James Ketterer
Presented by The St. Petersburg World Affairs Council
Music
This talk explores the use of one of America’s great cultural creations – jazz – as a diplomatic tool. Starting in the 1950s, jazz was used as a way to counter Soviet propaganda, highlighting the contribution of great musicians like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie. But how did those musicians reconcile their status as global ambassadors of American culture with the challenges of the Civil Rights movement at home? The answer is manifested in the music they played, the compositions they created in response to encountering new cultures, and the musicians they inspired around the world.
James Ketterer is a Senior Fellow at the Bard Center for Civic Engagement. He has worked in Egypt and on U.S. government development and public diplomacy initiatives, including educational and cultural exchange programs. He is also a jazz drummer.
