ucl jazz soc's fusions: A journey through a timeless genre

With UCL’s talent on full display, the UCL Jazz Fusions was truly a night to remember.  Walking us through the convoluted history of jazz and its many fusions with other genres and cultures, the show was a historical stroll across the globe and was as fascinating as it was a treat to the ears.  

A few familiar artists and tunes were played, but so many others which I had not known before. As an avid music listener myself, one of my favorite things to do is to discover new songs and artists to obsess over, for which this concert was just perfect! Starting off in the late 60s, we first get a taste of a song which laid the foundation for jazz’s blend with Rock’n’Roll, called ‘Welcome/Peaches en Regalia’. This blend gave birth to work from artists such as Van Morrison, as well the timeless Billy Joel, whose song ‘Zanzibar’ unites heavy late-70s rock with classical jazz.  

These fusions were not limited to the West however, with another one being born this time with the synthy city-pop genre which was rapidly growing popular in Japan. ‘Dazzling’ by Casiopea is an example of that musical explosion of smooth jazz, city-pop and other subgenres - a truly unique sound.

The show was also not limited to instrumentals, but also comprised some beautiful vocals.  One of the songs I knew prior to the show (and one which I love) is ‘Come away with me’ by Norah Jones.  This song has an angelic sound, which blends smooth jazz with country, folk, soft rock and blues. This deviated from the popular sounds of late 90s hip-hop and contemporary R&B.  It was truly the highlight of the show for me. The main takeaway of UCL’s Jazz Fusions for me, apart from fermenting how much I love music, is how reflective music is of contemporary society. Each new blend, each new sound born out of experimenting between genres, across cultures and geographies is a story embedded within the music score. As much as I thought I appreciated jazz prior, I left the concert with a whole new appreciation of not only that genre but of human creativity and ingenuity.

Photography by Emma Last.