Quadrill Band c. 1935 - 1943

This print, "Quadrill Band" by Effim H. Sherman, captures a jazz ensemble in mid-performance. These musicians, with their instruments, embody a modern-day Dionysian revelry. Consider the trumpet: its form echoes the ancient shofar, a ram's horn used to herald sacred events. While the shofar called to religious assembly, the trumpet summons us to the dance. The gestures of the players also have a deep history. See how the drummer's hands, striking the cymbal, recall the ecstatic movements of ancient priests. The evolution of these motifs is fascinating. What began as sacred ritual transforms into secular celebration. The underlying impulse remains: a primal urge to transcend the mundane through rhythm and sound. This transformation reflects the powerful forces of collective memory, a subconscious echo of ancient traditions. We respond to this music on a deep level, drawn to the emotional intensity of the performance, a timeless cycle of expression and transformation.