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African-American Jazz Musicians in the Diaspora (Studies in African Diaspora, V. 2)

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The history of jazz has been told, re-told, written, re-written, presented and re-presented ad nauseum. An often revisionist chronicle of jazz neglecting certain aspects and exaggerating others has overwhelmed the amassing literature. With African-American Jazz Musicians in the Diaspora, Dr. Larry Ross a trained anthropologist but more importantly a skilled, seasoned, award-winning musician aims to set the record straight. In this timely text, Dr. Ross examines "some of the cultural and microeconomic externalities that contributed to the migration trends of African American jazz musicians" (p. 11). Through years of research, Dr. Ross brings a refreshing account of the historical and cultural significance of the innovations of numerous African American jazz musicians throughout the Diaspora. Interesting discussions on race, migration patterns, culture, class and aesthetics in addition to interesting facts make African-American Jazz Musicians in the Diaspora a unique and personal analysis worth reading.

Expertly written by Larry Ross (a winner of the International Association of Jazz Educators Award for Outstanding Musicianship for the piano), African-American Jazz Musicians In The Diaspora is a methodical survey of the history of jazz music in the twentieth century, including jazz in Germany 1925-1945; jazz musicians in postwar Europe; the influence American culture had on the death rates of jazz and classical musicians; contemporary changes in the European jazz scene, and more. A thoughtful, extensively researched, and fact-filled discourse, African-American Jazz Musicians In The Diaspora is very strongly recommended for the academic library Black Studies, Music Studies and/or Music History reference shelf.