Season 8 · Episode 11

Human Conditions: ‘Black Music’ by Amiri Baraka

In 'Black Music', a collection of essays, liner notes and interviews from 1959 to 1967, Amiri Baraka captures the ferment, energy and excitement of the avant-garde jazz scene. Published while he still went by LeRoi Jones, it provides a composite picture of Baraka’s evolving thought, aesthetic values and literary experimentation. In this episode, Brent and Adam discuss the ways in which Baraka tackled the challenge of writing about music and his intimate connections to the major players in jazz. Whether you’re familiar with the music or totally new to the New Thing, 'Black Music' is an essential guide to a period of political and artistic upheaval. Non-subscribers will only hear an extract from this episode. To listen to the full episode, and all our other Close Readings series, subscribe: Subscribe to Close Readings: Directly in Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3pJoFPqIn other podcast apps: lrb.me/closereadings Brent Hayes Edwards is a scholar of African American and Francophone literature and of jazz studies at Columbia University.Get in touch: [email protected] Further reading in the LRB:Adam Shatz: The Freedom Principle<a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2014/may/the-freedom-principle" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2014/may/the-freedom-principle</a> Adam Shatz: On Ornette Coleman<a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v37/n14/adam-shatz/diary" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v37/n14/adam-shatz/diary</a> Philip Clark: On Cecil Taylor<a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2018/april/cecil-taylor-1929-2018" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2018/april/cecil-taylor-1929-2018</a> Ian Penman: Birditis<a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v36/n02/ian-penman/birditis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v36/n02/ian-penman/birditis</a><hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Close Readings

November 10, 202417m 57s

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Original episode page

Show Notes

In 'Black Music', a collection of essays, liner notes and interviews from 1959 to 1967, Amiri Baraka captures the ferment, energy and excitement of the avant-garde jazz scene. Published while he still went by LeRoi Jones, it provides a composite picture of Baraka’s evolving thought, aesthetic values and literary experimentation. In this episode, Brent and Adam discuss the ways in which Baraka tackled the challenge of writing about music and his intimate connections to the major players in jazz. Whether you’re familiar with the music or totally new to the New Thing, 'Black Music' is an essential guide to a period of political and artistic upheaval.

Non-subscribers will only hear an extract from this episode. To listen to the full episode, and all our other Close Readings series, subscribe:

Subscribe to Close Readings:

Directly in Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3pJoFPq

In other podcast apps: lrb.me/closereadings

Brent Hayes Edwards is a scholar of African American and Francophone literature and of jazz studies at Columbia University.

Get in touch: [email protected]