Drummer Ted Sirota and his band Rebel Souls have a new record out called Seize the Time (Naim Jazz, 2009). It’s an explicitly political instrumental album, very in line with Sirota’s previous CDs, all of which have featured album titles, song titles and liner notes that make clear Sirota’s progressive politics.

I talked with Sirota about Seize the Time for my show, The Jazz Session. (That interview will air later this year.) During the interview, Sirota mentioned that he believes many critics ignore or dismiss — or simply miss — his music, instead talking about his politics and nothing else. His comment, coming as it did 25 minutes into an interview where I’d done nothing but talk about his politics, initially made me regret the direction of the conversation up to that point.

After a few moments’ thought, though, I told Sirota that while I think the album is powerful musically, I think it’s even more powerful socially because we live in an age where explicit political statements are vital to our survival. I’m happy to have another CD of smart, fun music to listen to. I’m even happier to turn people on to an artist who puts his social awareness where his drumsticks are.

In the 1960s, jazz artists made socially aware music, much as their counterparts in other genres did. I’ll give some specific examples in a minute. To be fair, such music has never completely disappeared, although “conscious jazz,” to coin a term, has ebbed and flowed in the same way as political engagement in this country. (more…)