The second edition of the Documenting Jazz conferences offered an unparalleled variety of experiences drawn from across the world. It brought together more than one hundred delegates from twenty countries within the academic, archive, library, and museum sectors to explore and discuss documenting jazz. As the programme reflected, there were contributions from individuals of all career stages, from established scholars and practitioners to those just starting their careers, embracing the academic sector and other heritage and cultural organisations.
The conference theme was focused on ways of documenting jazz as visual culture and its distinct representations. The act of documenting jazz embodies ways of documenting that reflect assumptions about the past. As changes in technology, cultures and economies have profoundly influenced and affected our perception of music, and alternative ways of documenting jazz must be considered, explored, and discussed.
Documenting Jazz 2020 consolidate discussions around issues of gender, and the way those have been documented or marginalised in this music history. It also challenged the narratives surrounding jazz as a male-dominated domain. Keynotes speakers, Professors Catherine Tackley and Kristin McGee both represent excellence in jazz scholarship, and I am incredibly grateful to them for accepting my invitation.
The conference would not be possible without the hard work of the conference and programme committee members. I extend my sincere thanks to all involved.
I look forward to meeting you all in the next Documenting Conference or surrounding events.
Pedro Cravinho
Conference Chair
