Background. Schizophrenia has been known as one of the most stigmatized psychological disorders in the society and this contributes to experiences of verbal abuse, physical abuse, loss of contact with others, and discrimination among schizophrenics. This being said, efforts should be made to alter this stigmatized view of schizophrenics to a more positive one. As means to achieve this, this study will closely examine the case of Charles 'Buddy' Bolden and Tom Harrell. Bolden's schizophrenia forced him to play his cornet through improvisation and a new genre of music was born in 1917, known today as jazz. Harrell, a well-known and award winning jazz musician in 1970s, also had schizophrenia. Speculations arose about how schizophrenia might contribute to their creativity and finesse in playing music, specifically jazz. Through analyzing their case and story and reviewing theories and researches about schizophrenia and music, this article provides an alternative scientific explanation on how such speculation might be true, aiming to answer the following research question: How schizophrenia might contribute to Bolden and Harrell's ability in playing jazz music? Thus, bringing a new perspective on seeing schizophrenics.

Methods. A qualitative approach using a case study method is used to examine the association between schizophrenia and jazz. The case of Bolden and Harrell are chosen to be studied further because both are influential figures in jazz who suffered from schizophrenia, making them eligible representations of schizophrenics who managed to produce a significant work, enjoyed by a huge audience. Neuropsychological theories and researches about music and schizophrenia are used as framework to study their case.

Results. Due to having an impaired mechanism in expressing emotion, Bolden’s and Harrell’s brain might then develop an alternative neural connection to compensate that condition. This probability is related to functional compensation principle of brain. In Bolden’s and Harrell’s cases then, the alternative skills produced are possibly the ones that are related to playing music, especially given that music has a function of expressing emotion which they lack at. Given that brain has plasticity, conditions that Bolden and Harrell had due to their illness might then initiate and reinforce them to keep improvising jazz and therefore change the structure of their brain which led to an enhancement of their ability in playing it. Another possible factor that reinforces Bolden and Harrell to keep playing their instruments would be jazz as a form of music itself in which it can act as a therapy to a chaotic mind.

Conclusions. There is a scientific alternative explanation that connects schizophrenia with jazz through the perspective of neuropsychology.

Added-values. The association between schizophrenia and jazz remains a vague concept until today. This paper uses a scientific approach in understanding the association, giving the readers an empirical-based explanation that supports the notion of schizophrenia contributing to a well-known work which is jazz.

Contribution to the society. Through a discussion on a rather new and different perspective of seeing schizophrenia as a severe psychological disorder, a shift on people's negative stigma of schizophrenics, hopefully, might take place. This will create a more positive and supportive environment for schizophrenics to live in.

Keyword: Buddy Bolden, Tom Harrell, schizophrenia, jazz, improvisation.

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