Call for Papers

Australasian Jazz and Improvisation Research Network and the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music – Monash University invite a call for papers for the inaugural conference:

JA: Why the formation of AJIRN – Australasian Jazz and Improvisation Research Network?
RB: Since the late twentieth century, there has been a growing international appreciation of the importance of diasporic jazz, part of the shift away from the US-centric model of jazz historiography that dominated the field for most of the lifetime of the music. Locally, this shift has been evident in the sudden increase in studies of jazz in Australia/New Zealand. Until the late 1990s, the number of such academic, scholarly research projects, albeit of a high standard, was negligible; this has now changed at least 30 doctorates in the field completed over the last 20 years with more in progress.

We believe that the community of Australian jazz researchers has reached a critical mass that would support a formal network to complement IASPM and Rhythm Changes (European Jazz Network). Such a network would provide not just the sense of collegiality, but also much needed mentoring support, online discussion list, annual/biennial conference and publishing activity.

The upcoming conference is being presented by AJIRN and The Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music in Association with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival (MIJF).

The conference focus is centred on the topic of agency, which has accumulated significant research and commentary in jazz and improvisation – particularly in terms of aesthetics, culture and cognition. The thrust of the discussion seems to have moved from assuming the musician has singular agency in his or her work to a more distributed agency where other agents collaborate to create music. In essence, agency is the capacity to have an affect/effect, which is relevant to a wide range of areas of research.

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Friday 2nd June to Sunday 4th June, 2017
Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
(Friday opening reception 5:00 – 6:30pm)

Discussion around agency has accumulated in significant research and commentary about jazz and improvisation – particularly in terms of aesthetics, culture and cognition. The thrust of the discussion seems to have moved from assuming the musician has singular agency in his or her work to a more distributed agency where other agents collaborate to create music.

In this conference, encouragement is being given to a cross-section of researchers from the field to explore the notion of agency in jazz from multiple perspectives.

Papers and proposal for presentations that could include live performances are welcome from researchers.

Associate Professor Rob Burke is the convenor of the conference with Fiona Burnett the program chair.
AJIRN Executive Committee
Robert Burke (convener) Associate Professor – Monash University, Co-ordinator of Jazz and Popular Music
Fiona Burnett (secretary) University of Melbourne
Christopher Coady  Lecturer in Musicology, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney
Roger Dean  Professor – austraLYSIS, MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University
Nick Haywood – Senior Lecturer UTAS
Bruce Johnson  Adjunct Professor, Communications, University of Technology Sydney,  Docent and Visiting Professor, Cultural History, University of Turku Finland,  Visiting Professor, Music, University of Glasgow Scotland
Robert Vincs – Senior Lecturer, University of Melbourne. Head of Jazz and Improvisation Studies

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