The Gospel Coaltion Award of Distinction—Arts and Culture

ECPA Top Shelf Award Winner

For practitioners and fans, jazz expresses the deepest meanings of life. Its rich history and itsdistinctive elements like improvisation and syncopation unite to create an unrepeatable and inexpressible aesthetic experience. But for others, jazz is an enigma. Might jazz be better appreciated and understood in relation to the Christian faith?

In this volume, theologian and jazz pianist William Edgar argues that the music of jazz cannot be properly understood apart from the Christian gospel, which like jazz moves from deep lament to inextinguishable joy. By tracing the development of jazz, placing it within the context of the African American experience, and exploring the work of jazz musicians like Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong, Edgar argues that jazz deeply resonates with the hope that is ultimately found in the good news of Jesus Christ.

Grab a table. The show is about to begin.



William Edgar (DThéol, Université de Genève) is professor of apologetics and coordinator of the apologetics department at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia as well as professeur associé at the Faculté Jean Calvin in Aix-en-Provence,France. He is the author of several books, including Created and Creating: A Biblical Theology of Culture; Reasons of the Heart: Recovering Christian Persuasion; Does Christianity Really Work?; The Christian Mind: Escaping Futility; A Transforming Vision: The Lord's Prayer as a Lens for Life; Francis Schaeffer on the Christian Life; and Christian Apologetics Past and Present.







Carl F. Ellis Jr. (DPhil, Oxford Graduate School) is Provost's Professor of Theology and Culture at Reformed Theological Seminary. He is also academic dean of The Makazi Institute, which he cofounded to train the next generation of high-level cultural analysts, and he serves on numerous boards and as a consultant on cultural matters.



Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Jazz and the Gospel



Part I: Historical Context

1. A Long Way from Home: Slavery and Diaspora

2. Paternalism: Justifying Narratives

3. Bondage and Beauty: Life andMusic During Slavery

4. Strength to Climb: The Gospel During Slavery



Part II: Feeder Genres

5. Resilience: The Music of Strength

6. Go Down, Moses: Spirituals

7. Precious Lord: Moving to Gospel

8. Woke Up this Morning: The Blues



Part III: Jazz Music

9. A Way of Life: How Jazz Came into Being

10. Jazz at Midlife: Bebop and Cool

11. Gospel in Jazz: The Christian Message in the Musicians and the Music

12. The Spirit of Jazz: Jazz and the Gospel Message

13. The Glories of Jazz: What's Not to Love?



Appendix: Selected Jazz Recordings

General Index

Scripture Index