Black Social Music | on the inter-articulation of black-identified music and social life

Cecil Taylor, ‘Silent Tongues’ (1974)
Sly and the Family Stone, ‘There’s a Riot Goin’ On’ (1971)

To hear just this first track, “Luv n’ Haight,” off Sly and the Family Stone’s 1971 album There’s a Riot Goin’ On is to remember that funk music is feel-good music. But to recognize such affect is to go against the (white) critical consensus of the album as a tragic masterpiece, both because of the putatively …
Miles Davis, ‘Bitches Brew’ (1970)
Miles Davis, ‘In a Silent Way’ (1969)

“1968 was full of all kinds of changes, but for me, the changes that were happening in my music were very exciting and the music that was happening everywhere was incredible. These things were leading me into the future and into In a Silent Way.” —Miles Davis [Press the play sign above before reading the …

Cecil Taylor, ‘Silent Tongues’ (1974)