Writing Jazz

Sascha Feinstein is Professor of English at Lycoming College and Founding Editor of Brilliant Corners: A Journal of Jazz and Literature. His many books include Ask Me Now: Conversations on Jazz and Literature.

"If I had to choose the one book that best captures what Whitney Balliett called 'the secret emotional center in jazz,' it would be Writing Jazz. Sascha Feinstein's conversations with a dazzling array of writers uncovers a lot about jazz's 'extraordinary little kingdoms and fiefdoms and neighborhoods,' as Tom Piazza describes jazz's intricate ecosystem. But the true magic of this book, the reason both seasoned jazz nerds and curious neophytes will love it, is this: through engrossing dialogue and storytelling, Writing Jazz illuminates more clearly than ever why and how jazz takes hold of its listeners and never lets them go." — John Gennari, author of Blowin' Hot and Cool: Jazz and Its Critics"In Writing Jazz, Sascha Feinstein's probing helps us to know fourteen writers who are smart, thoughtful, and excellent company." — Gary Giddins, author of Weather Bird: Jazz at the Dawn of Its Second Century

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Whitney Balliett / Poetic Prose2. Bob Blumenthal / Hitting Your Mark3. Stanley Crouch / If You Can't Do Better, Might as Well Just Stay Away4. Linda Dahl / Breaking Down the Gates5. Maxine Gordon / Maxine Calling6. Farah Jasmine Griffin / The Culture of Jazz7. John Edward Hasse / Living Archives8. Willard Jenkins / Taking It Back9. Hettie Jones / But I Know What Time It Is Now10. Robin D. G. Kelley / Evidence11. Laurie Pepper / The Artist's Way12 Tom Piazza / On the Record13. Ricky Riccardi / The Archival Mind14. A. B. Spellman / Don't Give It UpIndex