Free Jazz/Black Power

This book explores the racial and political implications of jazz, offering a profound critique of jazz criticism and its societal impact, especially in the context of free jazz.

In 1971, French jazz critics Philippe Carles and Jean-Louis Comolli co-authored Free Jazz/Black Power, a significant examination of the racial and political dimensions of jazz and its criticism. This work is crucial for understanding the connections between American free jazz and its European counterparts, including audiences, critics, and artists. It effectively captured the essence of its era while also reshaping the cultural discourse surrounding jazz.

Free Jazz/Black Power serves as a testament to the long-neglected intersection of radical African American music and French leftist critique. Carles and Comolli aimed to defend a genre often disparaged by critics on both sides of the Atlantic, highlighting its deep roots in African American culture, history, and the political struggles of the early 1970s. The authors provided a comprehensive political and cultural context regarding the black experience in the United States, illuminating the questionable role of jazz criticism in perpetuating racial oppression.

This insightful analysis of jazz criticism is marked by a keen self-awareness. It critiques the critics themselves, creating a pioneering work of cultural studies during a time when such an approach was rare. The authors arrived at radical conclusions, positing that free jazz was a revolutionary response to white domination and aligned with the Black Power movement. The influence of Free Jazz/Black Power is profound, prompting readers and musicians alike to reevaluate their perceptions of African American music.