Book Review : Epistrophies Jazz and the Literary Imagination
Other , perhaps less well known , artists also populate the pages of Epistrophies Jazz and the Literary Imagination . For example , Mary Lou Williams , and her technique of “ zoning ” in order to produce her best music may not automatically resonate with readers until Edwards makes the point that many athletes and entertainers now “ get in the zone ” in order to achieve optimum results . Singer songwriters Henry Threadgill and Nathaniel Mackey also receive relatively brief , but riveting , examination . Through close reading of their song titles and lyrics Edwards reveals their influence on more widely popular artists like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder . Their impact on contemporary hip-hop and rap artists is also explored , as is the notion that many who acknowledge their impact do so only through anecdotes shrouded in myth and legend .
Those interested in the journey of jazz , from where it has been , to where it is , to where it is going , will find Epistrophies Jazz and the Literary Imagination an eye-opening pleasure to read . Those interested in the wider impact of music upon generations of popular culture will also find the book enlightening .
James Altman University of Nevada , Las Vegas
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