TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
Jazz has always been more than notes—it’s a conversation, a release, and a way to center the mind. When musicians improvise, they enter a state of focused presence. The past and the future fall away, and the only thing that matters is the phrase unfolding in the moment. That’s mindfulness.
Studies show that improvisation lowers stress, supports emotional regulation, and strengthens creativity. It invites vulnerability and trust—between bandmates and within oneself.
Listeners feel it too. A swing groove can lift the spirit. A blues can help us process what’s heavy. Music for the mind—and the soul.
This has been Rapp On Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible by Layman Publishing Partners, celebrating 50 years of expert content creation, authoritative information management, and standards-driven print and digital production.