Where the Dark and the Light Folks Meet: Race and the Mythology, Politics, and Business of Jazz by Randy Sandke (2009)

In his highly political book jazz pro Randy Sandke takes a closer look at the stereotypes of both extremist positions towards the origins and legacy of jazz. While one fraction gives the sole credit to African-American artists, the other one opts for a historical cooperation in shaping the music. However, is there a political angle to jazz? Even before reading his study, there was, and after finishing the final chapters it is obvious that Sandke’s musings on the subject make a valuable addition to the discussion of jazz and its complicated system of appreciation.

By going way back to the origins not only of the music but of the myths accompanying it, he brings up evidence that the conditions that finally shaped jazz were a motor to both black and white artists. Sandke, a music theorist with a large output of musical recordings as trumpeter, tries to bring attention to many so-called “facts” about the music’s forefathers. According to him, there was a very intensive exchange between African-American musicians and artists of Irish, Italian, German, Creole and French descent as early as in the pre-jazz music of New Orleans. His extensive research produced a large study that at first seems strange in the field of academic publishing on jazz due to his fresh and candid way of reporting.

In challenging the household beliefs about the origins and politics of jazz, Sandke provides evidence to his thesis that many so-called facts about the music were wrong in the first place and repeated continuously over and over by whole generations of jazz critics. To some, his book may be the long-overdue response to the “established” canon on jazz. A great and entertaining read in many ways.

Review by Dr. A. Ebert (c) 2012

Randy Sandke. Where the Dark and the Light Folks Meet: Race and the Mythology, Politics, and Business of Jazz. Screcrow Press, 2010, 277 ps.