African Roots of the Jazz Evolution discusses how jazz style evolved from its original source - traditional African music. Reflecting the continental interaction and cultural development that took place over centuries, the book explores how melodic, structural, rhythmic, and other musical elements from Africa are manifested in African-American spirituals, the blues, and various jazz forms. The book moves chronologically from the roots of blues music through the advent of recording technology and into the incorporation of new musical styles and electronic media. Beginning with traditional African music, the text examines the sociocultural context in which African-American music emerged and the ways it was traditionally expressed. It also discusses the jazz innovators who emerged in each decade of the 20th Century and their contributions to jazz genres. Featuring reserve and in-class recording, discussion questions, and listening exams African Roots of the Jazz Evolution is an informed exploration of the African-America jazz evolution within a broad sociopolitical context. It can be used in a variety of courses in music, humanities, and ethnic studies.

This book surveys issues involving the development of traditional and modern African music from antiquity into the modern era. It examines some of the historical context in which African music evolved throughout the entire continent, and connects to African life and culture through discussing stylistic elements of African music and its musicians. The relationship between Africa and aspects of other world cultures is also examined in order to understand some of the musical issues and relationships involved.
Karlton E. Hester, Ph.D. (composer, flutist, and saxophonist), began his career as a composer and recording artist in Los Angeles where he worked as a studio musician and music educator. He specializes in premeditated, spontaneous, and electro-acoustic composition. His compositions range from solo cycles for various woodwinds to chamber configurations, music videos, interdisciplinary collaborations (music, dance, video, etc.) and electro-acoustic symphonic works. Dr. Hester has received composer fellowships, grants, and commissions from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, the New England Council of the Arts, Arts International, ASCAP, the William Grant Still Foundation, and the Mellon Foundation. He served as the Herbert Gussman Director of Jazz Studies at Cornell University from 1991-2001. He is currently Professor of Music and Director of "Jazz" Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Dr. Hester was founding director of the Fillmore Jazz Preservation Big Band, and is leader of his interdisciplinary arts ensemble, Hesterian Musicism.