MAKE IT NEW

Reshaping Jazz In the 21st Century

AS JAZZ ENTERS its second century it is reasserting itself as dynamic and relevant. Boston Globe jazz writer and Emerson College professor Bill Beuttler reveals new ways in which jazz is engaging with society through the vivid biographies and music of Jason Moran, Vijay Iyer, Rudresh Mahanthappa, The Bad Plus, Miguel Zenón, Anat Cohen, Robert Glasper, and Esperanza Spalding. These musicians are freely incorporating other genres of music into jazz — from classical (both western and Indian) to popular (hip-hop, R&B, rock, bluegrass, klezmer, Brazilian choro) — and other art forms as well (literature, film, photography, and other visual arts). This new generation of jazz is increasingly international and is becoming more open to women as instrumentalists and bandleaders. Contemporary jazz is reasserting itself as a force for social change, prompted by developments such as the Black Lives Matter, #MeToo movements, and the election of Donald Trump.

“Smart and entertaining, it’s exactly what jazz lovers are looking for, even if they don’t know it yet.”

—Gary Giddins

“Make It New confirms that this is a unique moment in time to be alive and listening to jazz.”

—Chris Barton, DownBeat

2020 Best Historical Research in Recorded Jazz finalist

—Association for Recorded Sound Collections

“Great book, Sir!”

—Eugene Holley, Jr.

More Reviews

  • “Anyone who cares about American music needs to buy this book.”

    —Joe Keohane, author of The Power of Strangers: The Benefits of Connecting in a Suspicious World and co-author of the novel The Lemon

  • “Jazz, and the idea and identity of jazz, run through the music like an endless exploration of joy and sorrow. Full of heart but no true boundaries. Full of maps that never last, arguments that only lead to unity and independence. Jazz may stem from the most ancient of human encounters with sound, finding its way through the most inhuman treatment of the species. And it never stands still, nor alone, nor intimidated. This theory, but well-noted in practice, is the basis for what may be one of the most revealing and thoughtful books about jazz, and certainly that belongs in the reading list of jazz patrons and musicians everywhere.”

    —Rod Davis, author of Life in the Time of Hurricanes and The Life of Kim and the Behavior of Men

  • “Superbly written and researched, Beuttler goes deeper than most into sociological, spiritual and intellectual contexts. The telling has a lived-in feeling that takes us inside the music. And Beuttler doesn’t disguise his passion for jazz: his love of the music is infectious. A book both for jazz intellectuals and beginners.”

    —Justin Freed, photographer and video artist, former owner of Coolidge Corner Theatre

  • “I was reading through your book and it’s really fantastic the way you put it all together. Bravo my man.”

    —Joe Lovano, saxophonist, composer

  • “More than I knew about the making and the future of Jason Moran & the JAZZ that surrounds us. Very grateful to have such a keen appreciation, grateful for the writer’s breadth and tough ear. This is a book to hand to the grandkids one day and say, ‘Read this. This is what it was.’ That is so important, and no amount of social posts is going to get it done. Somebody has to write this all down, if I want to look back at it. As per usual, I wish I weren’t quite so frank in my interview style (geez!!!!) but I think that it is equally important to accept who you are (I do) and see where you fit in with some purpose in this world. Progress.”

    —Alicia Hall Moran, vocalist, composer

  • “A very informative and entertaining read for sure. I really loved Bill's approach, how you can hear the musicians speaking directly to the reader, and their opinions clearly coming across. Learned a lot of new things about friends and colleagues whom I’ve known for years, which was a definitive plus. An honor to be included.”

    —Miguel Zenón, saxophonist, composer