African American Jazz and Rap

The late James L. Conyers, Jr., winner of the Cheikh Anta Diop Ankh Award for Distinguished Research in the Discipline of African American Studies, was the director of the African American Studies Program and university professor of African American Studies at the University of Houston.

• Table of ContentsIntroduction (by James B. Stewart)      I. Toward an Afrocentric Approach to the Study of Jazz and Rap Music1. Metatheory and Methodology: Appraising the Black ExperienceJames L. Conyers, Jr.      2. The Role of Criticism in Black Popular CultureWarren C. Swindell      II. “All That Jazz”: History, Culture, Performers, Instruments, and Political Functionality3. “And All That Jazz” Has African Roots!Learthen Dorsey      4. Jazz AntecedentsEddie S. Meadows      5. The Life and Jazz Style of Blue MitchellCharles I. Miller      6. Jazz Guitar: Ain’t No JazzGeorge Walker and Mondo Eyen we Langa      7. The Social Roots of African American Music: 1950-1970Thomas J. Porter      8. Jazz Musicians in Postwar Europe and JapanLarry Ross      III. Jazz Expressions in Dance and Literature9. African American Dance and MusicSamuel A. Floyd, Jr.      10. Lady Sings the Blues: Toni Morrison and the Jazz/Blues AestheticGloria T. Randle      11. Al Young: Jazz GriotMichael Carroll      IV. Rap Music as Art Form, Social-Political Commentary, and Economic Commodity12. The Rhythm of Rhyme: A Look at Rap Music as an Art Form from a Jazz PerspectiveReginald Thomas      13. At the Vanguard: African American Life as Seen Through the Music of Selected Rap and Jazz ArtistsAndrew P. Smallwood      14. Africana Cosmology, Ethos, and Rap: A Social Study of Black Popular CultureJames L. Conyers, Jr.      V. Toward the Future: Educating Future Generations and Preserving Cultural Traditions15. Can You Sing Jazz? Perception and Appreciation of Jazz Music Among African American Young AdultsNancy J. Dawson      16. Hip-Hop and the Rap Music IndustryTshombe Walker      17. Ethnomusicology and the African American TraditionGeorge L. Starks, Jr.      18. Reflections on Sterling Stuckey’s Slave Culture: Understanding Pan Afrikan Nationalism as a Cultural ForceAhati N. N. Touré      About the Contributors      Index

“Provide[s] challenging and informative accounts of the amorphous musical culture called jazz”—Booklist.