Hardcover, 297x297mm, 224pp. Over 15 years after the groundbreaking first volume, Soul Jazz Records returns with Freedom, Rhythm & Sound: Chapter Two - a stunning visual documentation of revolutionary jazz artwork from the 1960s-1980s. Originally compiled by Gilles Peterson and Stuart Baker, this expanded second volume dives deeper into the radical graphic universe of independently published jazz records.
The story begins with the first generation of African American jazz artists who transformed their role from nightclub entertainers to radical cultural voices. Sun Ra, John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and their contemporaries didn't just reshape the sound of jazz - they revolutionized its visual identity through self-produced record covers that reflected spiritual awakening, political consciousness and the search for absolute freedom. This 224-page hardcover (297x297mm) expands beyond the original focus, featuring hundreds of rare record cover designs including work by Black poets, civil rights speechmakers and experimental pioneers from the 1960s through 1980s. Each image documents a moment when art and activism merged, when musicians took control of their visual representation as fiercely as they commanded their instruments.
The book captures the complete aesthetic revolution of an era - from the cosmic Afro-futurism of Saturn Records to the stark political statements of the Black Arts Movement. These weren't just album covers, they were manifestos in graphic form.
Essential for anyone interested in jazz history, graphic design, African American cultural movements, or the intersection of sound and vision. A massive, beautiful document of creative
Flexi, 8.25 x 10.75 in. / 380 pgs / 800 color / 200 bw.