The Frequency of Healing with Sean Jones
“Music is simply frequency being negotiated.”
In this excerpt from Resonate, host Barry Shingle sits down with internationally acclaimed trumpeter, composer, and educator Sean Jones.
From his years with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to his current role shaping the future of music at Carnegie Hall, Sean has devoted his career to exploring the emotional and spiritual power of sound. Ahead of this year’s Jazz Week at Rancho La Puerta, August 23–30, 2026, we’re pleased to share a glimpse of their conversation.
On the Art of Improvisation
Barry: For people trying to understand, what are some of the qualities that make jazz different than other types of music?
Sean: Jazz tends to be a little more cerebral than pop music. There are usually more layers and more improvisation. It’s less about “the show” and more about the sound you’re hearing. It’s a music designed for listening on a more elevated level.
Think of it like this: we are improvising right now. We’re having a conversation that is being created on the spot, but we have a set of tools—the English language—to communicate. In jazz, our tools are harmony, melody, and rhythm. We use all of that to have a conversation with someone else in the moment.
On Music as a Spiritual Practice
Barry: I read that for you, music and jazz is a spiritual practice. Is that true?
Sean: It definitely is. You’re taking sound and you’re conveying emotion to human beings. In order to convey that emotion, you have to feel it first. Growing up in the gospel church, I know the healing power of music and what it’s able to do for people when it’s done with the right intention.
I’m really looking forward to being at Rancho La Puerta because it’s a place about healing. I get to exercise those principles in real-time with people who are coming with that specific purpose in mind. When it’s a designated time for rejuvenation, you can really lean into that and program music that’s all about healing and renewing.
Immerse yourself in a week of Jazz improvisation with legends Sean Jones, Billy Childs, and Ben Williams. Experience the magic of their encore appearance from August 23–30, 2026, and reserve your casita today.
