Songs in the key of diplomacy

CHICAGO — When one thinks of jazz, diplomacy isn't the first association to come to mind.

But among its vast contributions to the world this American-born music is a remarkably potent tool for cultivating understanding across cultures.

With my jazz quartet, I have taken multiple international tours sponsored by the US State Department. The mission of the tours was to reach out to areas of the world — often to places with strained relationships with the United States — and share American culture.

The goal: creating goodwill through music and specifically jazz.

At its best, a jazz ensemble exemplifies humility, open-mindedness, soul, vision, communication, a respect and knowledge of the music’s history, teamwork and the critical values of listening and empathy. The music is a dynamic conversation that the performers create together in the moment.

Music is a universal language. In many of the places we visited, music was a critical element in everyday life — inseparable from religious practices and daily rituals. It didn’t matter that we were playing American music. The elements of rhythm, melody and harmony and our passion for playing and listening were common to us all.

While most of our tour events started with my group performing and demonstrating aspects of our music, the most poignant moments happened when local musicians and artists came on stage and we all played together. Audiences would immediately pick up on how we were adapting to one another, and the tenor of the room would swiftly open.

Pianist Ryan Cohan's master class in Lubumbashi, DRC. Photo courtesy of Ryan Cohan.

After the concert many audience members enthusiastically came up to us to share their stories about their ties to jazz, and to express their appreciation of our sincerity in sharing our music with them. They wanted to engage us after realizing our commonalities. They didn't want to close themselves off to us because of our differences.

Jazz initiated all these connections.

Its core values are key for building any type of relationship, and the music has the ability to convey and translate intention and meaning at a human level better than any other language.

Plus, and maybe most importantly: no matter where you are on the planet, jazz swings, grooves and draws you in.

Ryan Cohan is a Chicago-based pianist/composer and Guggenheim Fellow. His newly released CD, "The River," was inspired by his touring Africa and is available at Amazon.com and iTunes. For more info visit: ryancohan.com.