Jazz in Black and White : race, culture, and identity in the jazz community

240 Pages·1998·9.198 MB·English

by  Charley Gerard

JAZZ IN
BLACK &
RACE,
CULTURE,
AND IDENTITY
IN THE JAZZ
COMMUNITY
I
CHARLEY
GERARD
JAZZ IN
BLACK & WHITE
RACE. CULTURE, AND IDENTITY
IN THE JAZZ COMMUNITY
CHARLEY GERARD
Is jazz a universal idiom or is it
an art form belonging exclusively
to African Americans? Although
whites have been playing jazz
almost since it first developed,
the history of jazz has been
forged by a series of African-
American artists whose styles
electrified their musical genera¬
tion-masters such as Louis £
Armstrong, Duke Ellington, John
Coltrane and Charlie Parker.
Developments in jazz have
been a result of black artists'
search for a meaningful identity
as Americans and as members of
the African diaspora. Yet despite
the fact that black musicians
have been the innovators of the
style, it often has been white
musicians who have popularized
and commercialized it, bringing it
beyond the African-American
community to be embraced by
a broader audience. Jazz music
has therefore become a form of
expression for both black and
white artists, and this fascinating
paradox is explored with depth
and honesty in Jazz in Black
and White.
The issue of racial identity in jazz
music is the compelling focus of
this personal look at the world of
jazz music. It is examined in the
context of nearly a centum
b
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JAZZ
IN BLACK
AND WHITE

JAZZ
IN BLACK
AND WHITE
Race, Culture,
and Identity in
the Jazz Community
Charley Gerard
Westport, Connecticut
London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gerard, Charles D.
Jazz in black and white : race, culture, and identity in the jazz
community / Charley Gerard,
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0—275-96198—2 (alk. paper)
1. Jazz-History and criticism. 2. Music and race. 3. Airo-
Americans-Race identity. 4. United States-Race relations.
I. Title. II. Series.
ML3508.G47 1998
781.65'0973—DC21 97-33018
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright © 1998 by Charley Gerard
AH rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 97-33018
ISBN: 0-275-96198-2
First published in 1998
Praeger Publishers, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984).
10 98765432 1
Copyright Acknowledgments
The author and publisher gratefully acknowledge permission for use of the following material:
Excerpts from Charley Gerard interview with Alva Nelson, March 20,1996. Used by permission of
Alva Nelson.
Excerpts from Charley Gerard interview with Ron Welbum, March 18,1997. Used by permission of
Ron Welbum.
Excerpts from Charley Gerard interview with John Loehrke, March 14,19 9 6. Used by permission of
John Loehrke.
Excerpts from “You Are My Sunshine” by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell. Copyright © 1940 by
Peer International Corporation. Copyright renewed. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Peer
International Corporation.
Every reasonable effort has been made to trace the owners of copyright materials in this book, but in
some instances this has proven impossible. The author and publisher will be glad to receive informa¬
tion leading to more complete acknowledgments in subsequent printings of the book and in the
meantime extend their apologies for any omissions.
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