How Black Music Took Over the World by Gibbs, Melvin
How Black Music Took Over the World by Gibbs, Melvin

How Black Music Took Over the World

One of the world's greatest bassists lays down the heart of Black music, revealing how its rhythmic...
$47.37 USD
$89.99 USD
$47.37 USD
Please hurry! Only 542 left in stock
Author: Melvin Gibbs
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Subtotal: $47.37
How Black Music Took Over the World by Gibbs, Melvin

How Black Music Took Over the World

$89.99 $47.37
How Black Music Took Over the World by Gibbs, Melvin

How Black Music Took Over the World

$89.99 $47.37
Author: Melvin Gibbs
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Description
One of the world's greatest bassists lays down the heart of Black music, revealing how its rhythmic structures and the long history of the African diaspora made it the world's most popular form.

"An insightful, revelatory, and informative read." --Meshell Ndegeocello, singer-songwriter and poet

Why do Bob Marley, John Coltrane, Aretha Franklin, and Nina Simone move us the way they do? What drives the worried notes of the Delta blues? What makes Beyoncé's triumph Cowboy Carter inescapably great?

As Melvin Gibbs shows in How Black Music Took Over the World, it is the musical inheritance of Africa. Beginning with two rhythmic building blocks he calls the cell and the frame, Gibbs shows how those tools can transport listeners to "a realm where sounds become vehicles for human movement." Reforged in the African diaspora in the Americas, they are played today on church organs, electric guitars, computers, telephones, or a simple gourd. Kool & the Gang called Black musicians the "scientists of sound"--and Gibbs shows how they discovered the world's music.

Gibbs's vantage is unique. A world-class musician fluent in many genres, Gibbs is as comfortable in an old-school Times Square record shop as he is breaking down mathematics and music theory with university professors. Imbued with his own journey and a sharp eye for the sins and triumphs of history, How Black Music Took Over the World is an unforgettable revelation of one of humanity's greatest achievements.


Author: Melvin Gibbs
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 04/14/2026
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 9.40h x 6.40w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9781541603240


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 02/09/2026
Kirkus Reviews 02/15/2026

About the Author
Melvin Gibbs is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, composer, and musician. He is the 2019 winner of the JazzTimes Critics' Poll for electric bass. His cross-disciplinary work encompasses an ongoing collaboration with the theoretical cosmologist Stephon Alexander and a long-term working relationship with filmmaker and conceptual artist Arthur Jafa. He splits his time between Brooklyn and Minneapolis.
Shipping & Return

Returns Policy

You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Shipping

We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.

When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.

Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.

Review