The Soul and Jazz Record
- Place of Publication: Hollywood, CA
- Language: English
- Date of Publication: 1975-1977
- Periodicity: 6 nos., irregular
- Editors: Mays Andrews, Bill Chappell, Flo Jenkins & Dee Dee McNeil
- Publishers: The Soul & Jazz Record
- Lacunae: Unknown. Volume and issue numeration is irregular but all issues known to the editor have been reproduced.
- Type: Full Text
According to editor Mays Andrews, Jr., The Soul and Jazz Record was “a monthly publication devoted exclusively to the comprehensive coverage of Black music as analyzed by Black writers and other writers we deem sensitive to have an adequate understanding of the subject.”1 Appearing at a time with a rich diversity of recorded and performed Black music – publisher Bill Chappell draws attention to soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, pop, middle of the road (MOR), country, gospel, and classical2 – The Soul and Jazz Record sought to give voice to Black perspectives as an alternative to that available in other journals and industry publications. Andrews expanded the definition of Black music as such: “Black music, referred to as ‘Soul’ by the millions of peer listeners and performers, reflects the struggles, exploits, desires, loves, and hates of a people who were ‘taken’ from their native land and refused to be assimilated into the existing hostile culture” but also that which “esthetically resembles or duplicates the creations of Black composers and performers.”3
Those involved in the Record changed periodically, including Chappell as publisher and/or editor; Andrews and Flo Jenkins as editor, and Dee Dee McNeil as associate editor and/or associate publisher. Contributors included Rod McGrew, Chuck Siler, Leroy Robinson, Richard Dedeux, Meredith Beal, Ricky Hollomon, and Harrison Chastang, along with correspondents from cities across the country. Content focused on major recording artists in the various genres which the Record covered, ranging from Natalie Cole and John Coltrane to Lonnie Liston Smith, Dinah Washington, and Abbey Lincoln, among many others. Record reviews were supplied by the editorial staff and external writers. Issues ranged between 24 and 72 pages and advertising can be found alongside plenty of photography.
RIPM Jazz contains all issues that could be located: a premiere issue Vol. 1, no. 1 (July 1975); Vol. 2, no. 5 (September 1975); Vol. 2, no. 15 (November 1975); Vol. 2, no. 7 (January 1976); a Special Issue Vol. 3, no. 3 (July 1976); and Vol. 4 no. 1 (October 1977). It is unclear if any others were published.
1 The Soul and Jazz Record 1, no. 1 (July-August 1975): 22.
2 Ibid: 4.
3 Ibid: 22.