Europe’s only professor of jazz research
RIPThe Mayor of Essen, Thomas Kufen, has posted a eulogy ahead of tomorrow’s funeral of Dr Ilse Storb:
Ilse Storb was the only professor of jazz research in Europe and a passionate ambassador for public understanding. She has intertwined research, teaching and stage practice, shaped generations of students, musicians, and demonstrated that jazz is “music from soul to soul.” The jazz lab at the University of Duisburg-Essen, founded by her, set the benchmarks for jazz and music pedagogy.
Until old age, Ilse Storb remained faithful to her hometown Essen and was supported by girlfriends, who allowed her to live in her own four walls. Their commitment lives on with the Ilse Storb Friends Circle – Laboratory for World Music.
Ilse, who was 96, received her PhD from Cologne in 1967 with theses on Debussy and Dave Brubeck. An energetic performer, she founded the University of Duisburg Big Band in 1989 and, two years later Ilse and her Satchmos .
She was the “only” professor of jazz research in the same sense that Cecilia Bartoli is the “only” professional singer.
There are countless European professors doing jazz research.
What silliness.
Yes, many universities have jazz departments now. It has become part of the “classic” or “conservatory” music scene, which helps keep the art form alive and trains new performers in the same sense that conservatories and universities have long helped keep hundreds of years of traditional classic forms alive. Musicology, of course, follows suit.