Description:
California Soul is an original attempt to discuss the influence, growth, and style of blues, jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, and soul music--the music of African Americans--in California. While the birth and subsequent growth of these styles in areas such as New Orleans, Chicago, and New York have previously been well documented, California's role in shaping the blues has not. In fact, the state is usually mentioned only as a footnote, if at all, in blues history. California Soul proves that the area's African Americans have, for over three-quarters of a century, shaped their own distinctive blues sound--one distinguished by a smooth sound, experimentation, and diversity. In essence, a sound that is influenced by California's own indigenous qualities. The book's first section, "Music in an Urban Environment," documents the influence of California's urban centers on the state's blues sound. "Music and the Media" examines the trends and sounds that radio and musical recordings have brought to bear upon the state's blues music. "The Musician as Innovator," the third--and most personal--section focuses on individual artists, like early Motown's Brenda Holloway. The book is less an overview of these influences than a number of deeply researched, specialized topics thread together by the common theme of African American blues in California. The result is a collection of scholarly articles rather than light reading or a comprehensive view of the subject. The academic bent of the articles results in a formal, often stiff writing style. Though some chapters offer intrinsically appealing topics (jazz trumpeter Clora Bryant's experience is especially interesting), the book is written mainly for scholars and fans deeply interested in the subject. --Kris Law
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