What is this thing called soul : conversations on Black culture and jazz education / Damani Phillips.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Phillips, Damani C., author.

Series:

Black studies & critical thinking ; v. 103.

Black studies & critical thinking ; vol. 103

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Jazz musicians--United States--Interviews.

Jazz musicians.

Jazz--Social aspects--United States.

Jazz.

Jazz--Instruction and study--United States.

African Americans--Music--Social aspects.

African Americans.

African Americans--Music.

Social aspects.

Jazz--Instruction and study.

Jazz--Social aspects.

United States.

Genre:

Interviews.

Physical Description:

xii, 237 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., [2017]

Summary:

How does academic jazz education impact the Black cultural value of soulfulness and esthetic standards in contemporary jazz music? Through candid conversations with nine of the country's most highly respected jazz practitioners and teachers, What Is This Thing Called Soul explores the potential consequences of forcing the Black musical style of jazz into an academic pedagogical system that is specifically designed to facilitate the practice and pedagogy of European classical music. This work tests the belief that the cultural, emotional and esthetic elements at the very core of jazz's unique identity, along with the music's overt connection to Black culture, are effectively being "lost in translation" in traversing the divide between academic and non-academic jazz spheres. Each interviewee commands significant respect worldwide in the fields of jazz performance and jazz pedagogy. Noteworthy subjects include: Rufus Reid, Lewis Nash, Nicholas Payton and Wycliffe Gordon-along with the late jazz masters Marcus Belgrave and Phil Woods. Interviews are supplemented by original analysis of the nature and validity of these issues contributed by the author. What Is This Thing Called Soul offers a candid and objective look into pressing issues of race, culture and ethnic value in relation to both jazz music and jazz education. Sensitivity, marginalization and even a fear of offending others has limited open discussion of how the soul of jazz music can be lost in technical boundaries. What Is This Thing Called Soul is the first attempt to directly address such culturally urgent issues in jazz music. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Introduction: Jazz Is Black Music 1

Chapter 2 The Black Church: Stefon Harris Interview (1973-) 21

Chapter 3 Melting Pot Experience: Ellen Rowe Interview (1958-) 43

Chapter 4 Just Play Something Real: Rufus Reid Interview (1944-) 59

Chapter 5 Spirit and Hope: Marcus Belgrave Interview (1936-2015) 87

Chapter 6 Self-Taught Through Emersion: Brad Goode Interview (1963-) 111

Chapter 7 The Devil's Music: Wycliffe Gordon Interview (1967-) 133

Chapter 8 The First Rule of Colonization: Nicholas Payton Interview (1973-) 147

Chapter 9 4/4 Swinging Beat: Lewis Nash Interview (1958-) 171

Chapter 10 Music Is Music: Phil Woods Interview (1931-2015) 197

Chapter 11 Discussion: "You Cannot Teach Culture" 209

Chapter 12 Conclusion: Adjusting Course 231.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781433145704

1433145707

9781433145650

1433145650

OCLC:

984973656

Publisher Number:

99974752154