Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Esther (class of 2025) and features insert title info here. Thanks, Esther!

Is Jazz Dead?: (Or Has It Moved to a New Address) by Stuart Nicholson

Stuart Nicholson’s Is Jazz Dead? delves into the state of jazz in America, especially jazz moving into the 21st century. Nicholson, who is a prominent author of books on figures in jazz, like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, comments on how jazz has been evolving – or, in his argument, not evolving. He argues that American jazz has been leaning more towards old-school styles while experimental styles seem to be fading away. Nicholson suggests that jazz has the potential to be revived with modern electronic music, which may introduce new creativity into the genre.

As I read through Nicholson’s book, I thought his critique felt relevant, as he points out that the increasingly conservative nature of American jazz may be due to how recent music education focuses on preserving traditional styles rather than encouraging innovation. Nicholson also notes that European jazz scenes, which have more support from the public, tend to be more vibrant and diverse environments.

I recently got to see jazz up close for the first time at a concert by the David Esleck Trio at our very own Camp Concert Hall. The experience was a great introduction to jazz, as it was relaxed but engaging, which also felt like a counterpoint to Nicholson’s concerns about the genre’s lack of progression (but this is also coming from someone who knows nothing about jazz)!
The trio’s performance was lively, once more reminding me of how fun it is to participate in live performances that we have on campus!

For anyone looking to dive deeper into exploring different music genres, our university’s concerts are a great chance to do so! It’s often free for students, though it’s best to grab tickets early, but tickets are available at the box office during their hours. Nicholson’s book, combined with the Esleck trio’s live performance, personally offered me a rich view of the ongoing dialogue between jazz’s traditional roots and its potential for innovation!