Rediscovering protest jazz of the late ’60s Blue Note era

Civil Disobedience, initiated by New York bassist David Ambrosio, revives politically conscious music written by Black jazz composers during the late-1960s Blue Note era. This project revisits a powerful but largely overlooked body of music written in response to the civil rights movement and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Many of these compositions—instrumental works of protest and reflection—were released decades after they were written and never received wide attention. Civil Disobedience brings this music back into focus through new performances that highlight both its historical significance and its striking relevance today.