The Imperfect Art

Reflections on Jazz and Modern Culture

By: Ted Gioia

Write A Review

Paperback | 1 July 1990

At a Glance

Paperback
176 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.86 x 15.24 x 1.04

Paperback

$39.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $9.94 with

Ships in 7 to 10 business days

Taking a wide-ranging approach rare in jazz criticism, Ted Gioia's brilliant volume draws upon fields as disparate as literary criticism, art history, sociology, and aesthetic philosophy in order to place jazz within the turbulent cultural environment of the twentieth century. He argues that because improvisation--the essence of jazz--must often fail under the pressure of on-the-spot creativity, we should view jazz as an "imperfect art" and base our judgments of it on an "aesthetics of imperfection."

Incorporating the thought of such seminal thinkers as Walter Benjamin, Jose Ortega y Gasset, and Roland Barthes, The Imperfect Art offers vivid portraits of the giants of jazz and startling insights into this vital musical form and the interaction of society and art.

Industry Reviews

'In seven intelligent, uncranky, well-written chapters, scholar and pianist Gioia provides a compelling primer on jazz aesthetics.' Booklist 'In a series of short, pithy articles Gioia (pronounced 'Joya') tackles questions that most of us involved in jazz never stop to ask ourselves, maybe because they would make us uncomfortable. This is provocatively readable and, while not your average jazz book, it should make those who listen to and/or observe this music think about what it is they're doing.' Brian Priestley, Jazz Express 'This excellent book attempts to fit jazz into its proper cultural context and by implication correct many prejudices, illusions and errors of judgement. Clarity of writing and viewpoint makes for a stimulating read.' Declan O'Driscoll, In Dublin

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Arts & Entertainment Music Music Styles & Genres Jazz Theory of Music & Musicology Blues

Louis Armstrong and Furniture Music	p. 1
Jazz and the Primitivist Myth	p. 19
The Imperfect Art	p. 51
Neoclassicism in Jazz	p. 73
What Has Jazz to Do with Aesthetics?	p. 99
Boredom and Jazz	p. 113
Jazz as Song	p. 133
Notes	p. 147
About the Author	p. 155
Index	p. 157
Credits	p. 163
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

The Imperfect Art

Reflections on Jazz and Modern Culture

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

More in Music

In Love and Death

The Lost Notebook

Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!

My Memoir

Even the Good Girls Will Cry

My 90s Rock Memoir

The Last Encore

A gripping, claustrophobic Australian thriller with a killer twist

This Year

365 songs annotated

The Real Book

Volume I Sixth Edition (C Instruments)

My First Piano Adventure Lesson Book A

Hal Leonard Guitar Method: Book 1 (Second Edition)

David Gilmour - Luck and Strange - Studio/Live

Average at Best

A memoir from the creator of Pub Choir®

Punk

The Last Word

The Artist's Way

A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

Total F*cking Godhead

The Biography of Chris Cornell

The Story Orchestra: Four Seasons in One Day (Sound Book)

Press the note to hear Vivaldi's Music (Volume 1)

Just Kids

Essential Elements for Strings

Violin Book 2

My First Piano Adventure Lesson Book B

Essential Elements 2000 : Comprehensive Band Method

B Flat Clarinet : Book 1

Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Piano Course - Level 2

Lesson * Theory * Solo

Hal Leonard Guitar Method: Complete Edition [With Audio Online Access]

Books 1, 2 and 3 Bound Together in One Easy-to-Use Volume!

Alfred's Basic Adult All in One Course 1

Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course

Piano Adventures All-In-Two Primer Tech. & Perf.

All-In-Two Edition

Piano Adventures All-In-Two Level 1 Tech. & Perf.

Technique & Performance - Anglicised Edition

Piano Adventures All-In-Two Level 2A Tech. & Perf.

Technique & Performance - Anglicised Edition

This product is categorised by