Preview our FALL 2026 catalog, featuring more than 500 new books on art, photography, design, architecture, film, music and visual culture.
BOOKSELLER TRADE ANNOTATION
Now in Paperback: The classic collection of jazz record covers from the era of John Coltrane and "Spirital Jazz" in the 1960s - 1970s
THE MUSIC: In the late 1960's and 1970's, Jazz took a turn toward the spiritual. Motivated both politically by the black community ideals of the civil rights movement, and artistically by the transcendent music of John Coltrane, the music of this period is known as "Spiritual Jazz."
THE BOOK: Now in paperback. Utterly charming collection of Spiritual and Free Jazz album covers from the 60's and 70's, often privately pressed and released by the artists themselves, often in runs as small as 500 copies.
THE GRAPHIC DESIGN: Often the work of amateur graphic designers blissfully unaware of the rules that were supposed to govern good design, these jackets nevertheless crackle with the energy and purpose of the music contained on the records themselves.
THE EDITOR: Editor Gilles Peterson, legendary UK DJ and musical evangelist, is one of the foremost authorities on the spiritual jazz of this period, frequently showcasing it on his weekly BBC program, "Worldwide".
“A remarkable book” –The New Yorker“If there can be such a thing as a revolutionary coffee table book, Freedom Rhythm & Sound is it—a chance to wallow in the Afrocentric visual language of the non-mainstream black jazz vinyl of this extraordinary fertile and creative period.” –Eye“Like the uncompromising music they represent, all the covers broadcast a sense of bold, brazen ideology” –Pitchfork“For decades, no one was sure how to refer to this extraordinary music. Calling it ‘fire music’ does justice to its incandescent spirit, still burning from the pages of a book that preserves the memory of a special time.” --The Guardian
This is a unique collection of cover artwork of revolutionary jazz released in the USA in the 1970s, a time of great political and social importance for African-American artists. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and John Coltrane loom large as self-determination, economic power and musical freedom led to artists finding new paths—both musical and economic. Away from the mainstream, many of these musicians chose to take control of their economic worth by recording, releasing and distributing their own material. Thirty years later and these artefacts are a striking reflection of the time, pre–desktop publishing, pre-internet, these small-run (sometimes as low as 500 copies), self-made sleeves are as iconic and historically important as the revolution of DIY culture that sprang out of punk.
Soul Jazz Records has produced many releases relating to this music and this book is the first-ever collection of this amazing artwork. It comes with a lengthy introduction contextualizing the music and artwork and relating how the music came about, plus interviews with many of the people involved.
Featured image is reproduced from 'Freedom, Rhythm & Sound.'
STATUS: Out of stock
Temporarily out of stock pending additional inventory.
FORMAT: Pbk, 11.75 x 11.75 in. / 192 pgs / 400 color. LIST PRICE: U.S. $34.95 LIST PRICE: CANADA $48.95 ISBN: 9780957260061 PUBLISHER: Soul Jazz Books AVAILABLE: 8/22/2017 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Active AVAILABILITY: Out of stock TERRITORY: NA ME
Freedom, Rhythm & Sound Revolutionary Jazz Original Cover Art 1965–83
Published by Soul Jazz Books. Edited by Gilles Peterson, Stuart Baker.
“A remarkable book” –The New Yorker
“If there can be such a thing as a revolutionary coffee table book, Freedom Rhythm & Sound is it—a chance to wallow in the Afrocentric visual language of the non-mainstream black jazz vinyl of this extraordinary fertile and creative period.” –Eye
“Like the uncompromising music they represent, all the covers broadcast a sense of bold, brazen ideology” –Pitchfork
“For decades, no one was sure how to refer to this extraordinary music. Calling it ‘fire music’ does justice to its incandescent spirit, still burning from the pages of a book that preserves the memory of a special time.” --The Guardian
This is a unique collection of cover artwork of revolutionary jazz released in the USA in the 1970s, a time of great political and social importance for African-American artists. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and John Coltrane loom large as self-determination, economic power and musical freedom led to artists finding new paths—both musical and economic. Away from the mainstream, many of these musicians chose to take control of their economic worth by recording, releasing and distributing their own material. Thirty years later and these artefacts are a striking reflection of the time, pre–desktop publishing, pre-internet, these small-run (sometimes as low as 500 copies), self-made sleeves are as iconic and historically important as the revolution of DIY culture that sprang out of punk.
Soul Jazz Records has produced many releases relating to this music and this book is the first-ever collection of this amazing artwork. It comes with a lengthy introduction contextualizing the music and artwork and relating how the music came about, plus interviews with many of the people involved.
