Wind instruments such as the saxophone or trumpet play the main melody or harmonize to create musical color, comparable to leaders in society or those with different ideas who may have diverse perspectives but still respect each other's roles.
What's interesting about jazz is improvisation, a period where each musician can freely demonstrate their abilities while staying within the framework of the song. This is an important lesson for society: we should provide space for creativity and individual expression while maintaining overall harmony.
During improvisation, other musicians reduce their roles to allow the soloist to fully showcase their abilities, while still supporting with soft accompaniment (comping). This is a good example of knowing when to step back to give others a chance while remaining ready to support.
Moreover, jazz uses "tension" and "release," creating musical tension and then resolving it, such as using unfamiliar chords and then returning to the main chord. This teaches us that in society, conflicts or challenges may arise, but when we work together to resolve them, we can return to harmony.
Most importantly, jazz teaches us about listening and responding. Jazz musicians must listen to each other attentively, ready to adjust their playing to complement others. Sometimes there's a "call and response," a musical dialogue between musicians, which is like creative conversation in society.
When we view the world through the lens of music, we see that the perfection we seek is not out of reach. Music teaches us that beauty comes from the combination of differences, working together harmoniously, and respecting each other's roles.
If we can apply these lessons in our daily lives, in our work, and in our social coexistence, we can create a world that is closer to the perfection of a musical piece.
So, the next time you hear music, especially jazz, don't just listen with your ears, but listen with your heart. Try to think about how we can make our lives and society as beautiful as a melody. Imagine what our world would be like if we could coexist harmoniously like musicians in a jazz band, where everyone has a role, has the opportunity to showcase their abilities, knows how to listen and respond to each other, and collectively creates something beautiful.
Because in the end, we are all musicians in this big band called "the world," and jazz is not just beautiful music, but a model of the ideal society we all dream of.