[Misterioso]

Of course, the fact is that jazz, if defined as improvising variations on some theme by one or more musicians, has been in existence for a long time in Europe and elsewhere. It might even be described as an expression of human nature.

You mentioned Monk. Try to imagine his career without the dedication of Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff, Bob Weinstock, and Orrin Keepnews. Given his personal difficulties, I think it unlikely that we would ever have heard his music without their support. I love Thelonious. I have everything he ever recorded (I hope) in my collection of LPs and CDs. I do not think that his success can be attributed to the appreciation by African Americans alone.

[Misterioso]

BTW: When you're swinging, swing some more. ☺

[dmz]

I think we’re talking past each other a bit. As Dylan once sang (mixing metaphors wildly here) we always did feel the same we just saw it from a different point of view. I’m likely guilty of a too literal reading of your original comment.