Description

Published by: Penguin/Pelican books 1952
226 pages written in English
Written by: Rex Harris

Fascinating Rex Harris was a consulting optician by profession but was a prominent jazz authority, writer, broadcaster, journalist and lecturer of his day. There is an understandable staid English reserve about this book but it does not shy away from tackling head on the influences of slavery, and the poverty and injustices experienced by black people in the United States, as these are seen as being instrumental in shaping the development of jazz music. Some of the terminology used might seem a bit non-pc to today’s reader but tone of the writing is liberal, empathetic and by no means patronising, particularly by the standards of 1952. The cover subtitles this book “An account of it’s (i.e. jazz) origin and growth from the early drum rhythms of Africa to the highly developed Western music of today…”. Bearing in mind that swing had only just given way to bop and many of the influences that are now seen a crucial in modern jazz had yet to be realised then this makes this book a wonderful capturing of a moment in time which we can appreciate with the hindsight of knowing what developed on from here. Harris also highlight some of the important people, in the development of jazz in New Orleans, who are less well remembered mostly because there is little in the way of recorded work left behind that we can judge them on. Harris claims, for example, that Freddie Keppard turned down the offer from Victor to record the first ever jazz session because he feared that others would steal his band’s tunes. Since the remuneration to artist for recordings was so miserly then, and for many years to come, one can understand the reluctance of Keppard and others to be recorded. This is a wonderful little book and I recommend it. A good readable copy that shows some wear but much for a book thats more than 65 year old