Worldwide DJ, radio personality, sportswide fanatic, tastemaker of groove Gilles Peterson sure seems to do it all ! Now add “book author” to that list. Along with co-compiler Stuart Baker, Peterson is responsible for Freedom, Rhythm & Sound – Revolutionary Jazz Original Cover Art 1965-83, a hardcover tome that collects many of the greatest, truly visionary examples of album art during one of the most revolutionary moments in recent history.

It’s just out as of last week by the publishing arm of the mighty Soul Jazz record label, Freedom, Rhythm & Sound… documents the fact that not only were jazz artists of this moment shattering preconceptions about what music can be, they were also liberating design to be equally as innovative. This is the art of independence, depicting what happened when the genre-exploding sounds of the likes of Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Don Cherry, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Sun Ra, Gil Scott-Heron and The Last Poets gained their visual correlative in the indelible, challenging images that accompanied their music. Once again, Peterson digs in the crates so we don’t have to – per usual, when he sheds light on the past, we learn something crucial about where we’re at today. So check out these colorful, bold statements – it’s music for your eyes, indeed  (the book itself shows over 200 covers, many extremely rare to find !)

Listen here below to Gilles’ podcast with Stuart Baker or download your own copy

Freedom, Rhythm & Sound – Revolutionary Jazz Original Cover Art 1965-83
The book out now on SJR Publishing

Freedom, Rhythm and Sound ALBUM — Revolutionary Jazz and the Civil Rights Movement 1963-82
The 23 track double album out now on Soul Jazz Records