Thriving on a Riff
Jazz & Blues Influences in African American Literature and Film
Graham Lock and David Murray
Reviews and Awards
"The authors...provide a stimulating variety of literary perspectives on jazz...a provocative and nuanced cross-disciplinary approach to jazz in particular and art in general."-- AllAboutJazz.com
"Criss-crossing artistic and disciplinary divides with an exemplary spirit of inquiry, the essays and interviews collected in Thriving on a Riff make a vital contribution to our understanding of the influence of jazz and blues on other forms of African American creative practice. In addition to documenting salient moments in this history of cross-genre interplay, Graham Lock and David Murray have extended the archive with an accompanying website through which curious readers can now become active listeners. I encourage you to tune in." --Ajay Heble, Professor, School of English and Theatre Studies, University of Guelph/ Artistic Director, The Guelph Jazz Festival
"Examining complex issues of authenticity, identity, and assimilation within a broad cultural context, Thriving on a Riff's thought-provoking essays and interviews illuminate the various meanings and metaphors of a music that remains as misunderstood as it is inspirational and sublime." --Art Lange, co-editor, Moment's Notice: Jazz in Poetry & Prose
"For decades, many critics and scholars have argued that most African American art is informed by black music. This fascinating collection tries to unpack just what that means by exploring the 'jazzistic' character of African American writing and filmmaking. Essential reading for all students of American culture." --Robin D. G. Kelley, Author of Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination
"Highly readable and will fascinate anyone intrigued by where jazz goes when it steps outside music."--Jazz UK