Caribbean Currents: Caribbean Music from Rumba to Reggae, Revised Edition [Paperback]

Peter Manuel (Author), Kenneth Bilby (Author), Michael Largey (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1592134637 | ISBN-13: 978-1592134632 | Publication Date: March 28, 2006 | Edition: 2

"Caribbean Currents" presents an engaging panorama of the rich and diverse musics of the Caribbean region. This expanded and updated edition of the award-winning book covers recent developments in the region's music, such as the emergence of reggaeton and timba and includes a new and extensive study of Jamaican dancehall. Among the other additions are twenty-seven illustrations. The authors cover the historical development and current forms of the musics of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad, the French Caribbean, the lesser Antilles, and their transnational communities in the United States and elsewhere. They also succinctly and perceptively situate the musical music styles and developments in the context of themes of gender and racial dynamics, socio-political background, and diasporic dimensions. Written in a style that is at once readable, entertaining, and scholarly, "Caribbean Currents" is an ideal resource for students, musicians, and general readers.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Since the Caribbean's multifaceted music is usually heard in the U.S. only in such popular forms as reggae and salsa, Manuel and company's diligent scholarship is much needed. They provide thoughtful descriptions of such overlooked styles as the bachata of the Dominican Republic and the voudou-jazz of Haiti, as well as of the forms of more musically famous islands, such as Jamaica and Trinidad. They discuss such insular cultural manifestations as the salsa vs. merengue conflict in New York City and the Hindu devotional songs of Trinidad's Indian community. They describe their travels in several rather inaccessible countries, particularly Cuba. They cogently argue how the Caribbean's historical, political, and social developments shaped its musics. The musical analyses and notation they provide are straightforward enough to interest careful listeners as well as casual fans, and the many helpful discographies throughout the book--not to mention the cool photographs!--contribute to making this an essential text on some of the world's most irrepressible rhythms. Aaron Cohen --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Outstanding Academic Books, Choice, 1996 Gordon K. Lewis Memorial Award for Caribbean Scholarship, Caribbean Studies Association, 1996 "The musical analyses and notation... are straightforward enough to interest careful listeners as well as casual fans, and the many helpful discographies throughout the book--not to mention the cool photographs!--contribute to making this an essential text on some of the world's most irrepressible rhythms." Booklist "This is an exciting text that offers an excellent survey of the popular musical styles of the Caribbean... The authors assert that Caribbean music has something to offer everyone, and this text is intended to cater for a very broad audience ranging from Caribbean music lovers, to students of Caribbean and/or pan-American society, to readers of Caribbean descent who wish to learn more about their unique and dynamic music-culture." The World of Music "There is very much to admire in this comprehensive and insightful work. Caribbean Currents blends musical and sociocultural analyis, draws significance from fascinating song lyrics, and traces the social history of many of the Caribbean's most important genres of music and dance. The result is a package perfectly suited to classroom settings that should serve for some time as the standard text on Caribbean music." The Yearbook of Traditional Music "The revised edition addresses the most important and significant new developments in the 21st century Caribbean, and will be welcomed by those who enjoyed the original due to the considerable additions and enhancements in the revised edition...undoubtedly a valuable resource." Ethnomusicology

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Temple University Press; 2 edition (March 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592134637
• ISBN-13: 978-1592134632
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > History > Americas > Caribbean & West Indies > Cuba

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All You Need to Know About Caribbean Music...Great Reading!, June 6, 2000

By 

Joe Hernandez, Int'l Latin Music Hall of Fame - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caribbean Currents (Paperback)

Probably one of the best introductory books written on the history, evolution and development of Caribbean music. Professor Manuel covers, with enough in-depth analysis, the "roots" and history of the music of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, Suriname and other small islands.

The book is well written and an easy read, as well as being informative, giving the reader an overview of Caribbean music. It is not all-inclusive of the "Caribbean Basin"...it does not include the music of Central America, Mexico and Venezuela. Nevertheless it is a book I highly recommend to anyone that is interested in obtaining an overview on Caribbean music from its beginnings to the different genres of today.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Caribbean Musical Journey, April 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Caribbean Currents (Paperback)

Enjoyed the scope and ambition of this book, which educates you well about the remarkable number of musical genres that have emerged from the Caribbean. Has a place on my "world music" shelf along with "World Music: The Rough Guide" and "The Brazilian Sound."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for musicians, February 11, 2009

By 

Voice of Reason - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caribbean Currents: Caribbean Music from Rumba to Reggae, Revised Edition (Paperback)

We know that much of the world's contemporary is influenced by Africa and the Americas, but maybe you don't realized how much of the old music was influenced by colonialism, how Cuban music ended up in Baroque music of the 1600's, Chaconnes and Passacaglias for example. Basically this book has some really great stuff in it, it helps you get in touch with what colonialism did down there, Christopher Columbus was not so great, and at the same time connects you to a pretty vibrant, vivacious, and really soulful kind of music. I'm not even completely done with the book yet and I want to go there and live out some of the stories of this guy's travels, it's pretty damn cool.