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Living with Music: Jazz Writings
Before Ralph Ellison became one of America’s greatest writers, he was a musician and a student of jazz, writing widely on his favorite music for more than fifty years. Now, jazz authority Robert O’Meally has collected the very best of Ellison’s inspired, exuberant jazz writings in this unique anthology.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
27 people are currently reading
871 people want to read
About the author
Ralph Ellison
90 books2,052 followersRalph Ellison was a scholar and writer. He was born Ralph Waldo Ellison in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, named by his father after Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ellison was best known for his novel Invisible Man, which won the National Book Award in 1953. He also wrote Shadow and Act (1964), a collection of political, social and critical essays, and Going to the Territory (1986). For The New York Times , the best of these essays in addition to the novel put him "among the gods of America's literary Parnassus." A posthumous novel, Juneteenth, was published after being assembled from voluminous notes he left after his death.
Ellison died of Pancreatic Cancer on April 16, 1994. He was eighty-one years old.
Ellison died of Pancreatic Cancer on April 16, 1994. He was eighty-one years old.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 15, 2025
A marvelous collection of essays, letters, and excerpts of Ralph Ellison's fiction that really shows how much of a jazz enthusiast he was- and how the musical art form shaped his entire being.
For Ellison believed that "jazz suggested ways to confront chaos and also hints at the mysteries of adult sexuality and reproduction" (xvi).
The collection captures his love of Gillespie, Ellington; critical of Charlie Parker, Coltrane; how his writing was encouraged by two other literary titans, Langston Hughes and Richard Wright and how aspects of his life were lived in these essays.
These excerpts became autobiographical backstory to what would turn into the immortal Invisible Man; and the magnum opus, Three Days Before the Shooting (aka Juneteenth, shorter version).
In spite of some criticism against the changing musical art forms that derived from jazz- bebop, rock, and 1970s soul, and the TV program Soul Train in particular, Ellison shows the world that "the discoveries of a black self applies to us all" (Ellison 139) which is something incredibly profound and worthy for anyone.
For Ellison believed that "jazz suggested ways to confront chaos and also hints at the mysteries of adult sexuality and reproduction" (xvi).
The collection captures his love of Gillespie, Ellington; critical of Charlie Parker, Coltrane; how his writing was encouraged by two other literary titans, Langston Hughes and Richard Wright and how aspects of his life were lived in these essays.
These excerpts became autobiographical backstory to what would turn into the immortal Invisible Man; and the magnum opus, Three Days Before the Shooting (aka Juneteenth, shorter version).
In spite of some criticism against the changing musical art forms that derived from jazz- bebop, rock, and 1970s soul, and the TV program Soul Train in particular, Ellison shows the world that "the discoveries of a black self applies to us all" (Ellison 139) which is something incredibly profound and worthy for anyone.
September 13, 2014
(from the present) I enjoyed reading the book, but maybe because I'm not real informed about jazz literature, I can remember very little about it. Obviously nothing in it struck me as earth-shaking. Invisible Man this isn't.
(from the past, notes after reading it) Ellison's fine writing shows through in these music/jazz-related pieces. Curiously the fictional pieces are uneven, some fun, some boring. The interviews and (especially) letters exhibit Ellison as the egomaniac he was. What seemed to me pretty negative views on the Civil Rights movement came through in various places.
(from the past, notes after reading it) Ellison's fine writing shows through in these music/jazz-related pieces. Curiously the fictional pieces are uneven, some fun, some boring. The interviews and (especially) letters exhibit Ellison as the egomaniac he was. What seemed to me pretty negative views on the Civil Rights movement came through in various places.
January 28, 2024
it's like t.s. eliot--the critic--is writing about works I actually want to read about. (no offense to dramatists of the jacobean, restoration or renaissance eras.)
October 25, 2017
Ralph Ellison, beyond all else, left behind that one enormous, insurmountable novel, a book that is a thrilling breeze to read and does not allow the reader to get away as simpleminded as when the reading began. Living With Music is collection of outtakes and essays, like a thematic greatest hits album in record collector terms. If you were to pick it up without first having been turned around by Ellison's Invisible Man, you might not feel the full weight of what all the fuss is about.
January 7, 2020
If you are looking for a book to learn about jazz, then don’t pick up this book. If you are looking for a book about writing, then don’t choose this book.
This book is for people who live jazz and can understand the technical stuff, which I cannot. I was hoping to better understand and appreciate jazz by reading this book and was killed into a false sense of security since it was Ralph Ellison’s name on the cover. But this was much more than I bargained for. Though I did learn a lot about jazz, I was overwhelmed and confused by it in the long run.
This book is for people who live jazz and can understand the technical stuff, which I cannot. I was hoping to better understand and appreciate jazz by reading this book and was killed into a false sense of security since it was Ralph Ellison’s name on the cover. But this was much more than I bargained for. Though I did learn a lot about jazz, I was overwhelmed and confused by it in the long run.
November 11, 2022
This book paints incredibly rich settings of the culture during the jazz age. It takes the reader into an age that seems almost to be another world, to see the heroism of jazzers and their immense influence on the community and world through art.
The book uses a beautiful language that resounds the sociopolitical struggles that the writer and his country are striving to claw their way out from.
Fantastic read!
The book uses a beautiful language that resounds the sociopolitical struggles that the writer and his country are striving to claw their way out from.
Fantastic read!
August 1, 2018
A representative selection of Ellison's writings relating to music, this book gives the reader insight into the author's likes (Ellington, Armstrong) and dislikes (bebop, in general), as well as a good taste of his jazz-inflected fiction. Ellison is always a pleasure to read, and these pieces are excellent takes on a topic he loved.
November 13, 2025
Of course, this being Ellison, the writing's brilliant, and he has some fascinating perspectives on Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington among others, but I was disappointed to discover that a substantial portion of the book is comprised of excerpts from other Ellison works such as Invisible Man, Juneteenth and Flyin' Home.
September 27, 2023
also wonderful essays, very excited to come back and read the flamenco one specifically!
July 19, 2022
This books interesting. It's a collection of the Author's writings on Jazz, and swing and gives a good insight into Ellison as a person. However it expands well beyond Jazz you get insights into Ellison's politics. His views on various topics beyond Jazz. You also see his distain for the later bop style that developed in the later era of Jazz. He strongly disliked you couldn't dance to the music, as he viewed Jazz and dance as strongly intertwined. If you are interested in Ellison and learning more about the author and how Jazz influenced him this is a good place to start.
May 2, 2022
This book is so addictive!
Living With Music is a jazzy journey starting from it's root at the Minton to the rise of Bebop and the shifts and turns in Jazz scene, with special focus on Charlie Bird Parker, Charlie Christian, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. It opens up with a great essay on Ralph's own experience as a Trumpet player and then morphing into a full time writer with Luis Armstrong's records as his jazzy aide de camp.
And as for the musicianship, Ralph argues that a jazz musician (I think any musician for that matter) needs to achieve a "subtle identification between his instrument and his deepest drives" to establish both tonal and playing signature, sort of a "self-determined identity" and he "must be reborn, must find, as it were, his soul".
Finding a "self-identity" is something pivotal for band musicians of any taxonomy, even if you are playing in an extremely "Metal band". Ralph argues that a jazz musician's sole instructors are his/her fellow bandmates and the jamming sessions thus play the roll of a true [sic]academy for a jazz musician.
Here Ralph echoes similar point of views of Miles Davis when it comes to band musicians.
Ralph Ellison's essays, letters and interviews included to this volume praise contemporary jazz musicians like Philly Joe Jones, Luis Armstrong, Jimmy Rushing. It is Interesting to note in these interviews, how Charlie Parker's Bebop totally changed the scene with more focus on instrumentalism than the interactive dance-sing-play nature of early Jazz bands, like that of Duke Ellington.
Readers may also find it really enlightening to see the strong connections between the blues and jazz music and the literary works of that era, especially if the reader is familiar with Ralph's novel "Invisible Man" or "Juneteenth" or that of Richard Wright's "Native Son" or "Black Boy" his autobiography.
Finished reading it twice. Any musician or music enthusiast (not only the Jazz aficionados) should not miss out this book because it’s about living with music, literally. And especially, if you are playing an instrument, in a so called "Band".
Living With Music is a jazzy journey starting from it's root at the Minton to the rise of Bebop and the shifts and turns in Jazz scene, with special focus on Charlie Bird Parker, Charlie Christian, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. It opens up with a great essay on Ralph's own experience as a Trumpet player and then morphing into a full time writer with Luis Armstrong's records as his jazzy aide de camp.
And as for the musicianship, Ralph argues that a jazz musician (I think any musician for that matter) needs to achieve a "subtle identification between his instrument and his deepest drives" to establish both tonal and playing signature, sort of a "self-determined identity" and he "must be reborn, must find, as it were, his soul".
Finding a "self-identity" is something pivotal for band musicians of any taxonomy, even if you are playing in an extremely "Metal band". Ralph argues that a jazz musician's sole instructors are his/her fellow bandmates and the jamming sessions thus play the roll of a true [sic]academy for a jazz musician.
Here Ralph echoes similar point of views of Miles Davis when it comes to band musicians.
Ralph Ellison's essays, letters and interviews included to this volume praise contemporary jazz musicians like Philly Joe Jones, Luis Armstrong, Jimmy Rushing. It is Interesting to note in these interviews, how Charlie Parker's Bebop totally changed the scene with more focus on instrumentalism than the interactive dance-sing-play nature of early Jazz bands, like that of Duke Ellington.
Readers may also find it really enlightening to see the strong connections between the blues and jazz music and the literary works of that era, especially if the reader is familiar with Ralph's novel "Invisible Man" or "Juneteenth" or that of Richard Wright's "Native Son" or "Black Boy" his autobiography.
Finished reading it twice. Any musician or music enthusiast (not only the Jazz aficionados) should not miss out this book because it’s about living with music, literally. And especially, if you are playing an instrument, in a so called "Band".
October 15, 2011
I've been thinking I should read Ellison's Invisible Man lately, but wasn't sure if it was for me. I'm really glad a stumbled upon this book at the library... the book fairy said, 'hey, start here!' The second half of this collection has excerpts from Invisible Man, which I will read soon. I found Ellison's writing incredibly insightful and I guess... smart? I suppose I could say intelligent and matter of fact. There is something very sweet and elegant in the way he poses his opinions.
The collection brought to my attention the conflict of "boppers" versus the old school jazzmen from the point of view of someone who knew the musicians involved. Bebop has simply been part of my understanding of jazz. Reading these essays from the 50s and 60s points out the changes happening in American culture and also jazz. It's a very interesting period of time for jazz, the 1960s, because it marks a turning point. It is the point when rock n roll takes over. Jazz has become fractionalized into traditionalism and avante garde...ism and generally left a bit too sterile and/or heady for mainstream consumption. Well, before I turn this into an essay on the fall of jazz, I will say this is a great...probably must read for all you jazz fans out there.
The collection brought to my attention the conflict of "boppers" versus the old school jazzmen from the point of view of someone who knew the musicians involved. Bebop has simply been part of my understanding of jazz. Reading these essays from the 50s and 60s points out the changes happening in American culture and also jazz. It's a very interesting period of time for jazz, the 1960s, because it marks a turning point. It is the point when rock n roll takes over. Jazz has become fractionalized into traditionalism and avante garde...ism and generally left a bit too sterile and/or heady for mainstream consumption. Well, before I turn this into an essay on the fall of jazz, I will say this is a great...probably must read for all you jazz fans out there.
February 25, 2008
This book not only introduced me to Charlie Christian (the most influential guitarist in the world, who never found world wide notoriety) but to the concept of music being years ahead of all other mediums of expression -- literature, theater, and cinema. It was a scary notion. And a notion that I have held on to with the attempts to catch up to music through my writing.
The book also reminded me that I wasn't the only wanna-be musician in the world (instead choosing writing).
The book also reminded me that I wasn't the only wanna-be musician in the world (instead choosing writing).
January 31, 2008
Some of the most thoughtful writing I've found on the subject of jazz. Introduces the powerful concept that jazz is a geographically determined and defined music. Also outlines the importance of the Southwest's contribution to jazz.
It could (and should be read) as an interesting counterpoint to some of Albert Murray and Amiri Baraka's writings.
It could (and should be read) as an interesting counterpoint to some of Albert Murray and Amiri Baraka's writings.
January 23, 2008
This is a collection of Ellison's writings on music. You'll be introduced to some of his heroes. This also brings together short stories and portions from his previous publications (including Juneteenth). One passage inspired the name of my music label.
February 11, 2022
I liked this book very much.It not only reviewed the role that music played in the life of the author,but it’s role in the lives of many Afro-Americans and in particular Louis Armstrong and the songs that he produced!
April 1, 2014
Great if only for the fact that it exposes it's readers to Charlie Christian. The title story is wonderful but aside from that it gets a bit mundane.
September 14, 2018
A master writing about one of his life's passions. It doesn't get much better than this.
November 3, 2019
These super conservative hot takes on, idk, the greatest North American music ever produced kinda makes me retrospectively leary about the whole Ellison oeuvre. Regardless I'm #teamamiribaraka TID
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews