From jazz musicians such as Charles Mingus and John Coltrane, the music of the Black church has influenced many musicians in the genre. Specifically for jazz, gospel music and its origins in the church bring influences, such as improvisation, into the experience of jazz music and immersion of sound and culture. Artists Ashon T. Crawley, Dario Robleto, Norman Teague, Lava Thomas, and Folayemi [Fo] Wilson all incorporate aspects of jazz in their work and will discuss the influence in their practice in this panel discussion. Moderating the conversation will be historian Daniel E. Walker, an acclaimed historian, philanthropist, social entrepreneur, and entertainment industry leader.
