Richard N. Albert\'s the Jazz-Blues

Richard N. Albert's "The Jazz-Blues Motif in James Baldwin's 'Sonny's Blues'"

Richard N. Albert's argument in his critical essay, "The Jazz-Blues Motif in James Baldwin's 'Sonny's Blues,'" is that Baldwin may have intentionally made some gaffes in his characters' discussions about music as a device "which emphasizes a coming together in harmony of all people -- not just Sonny's brother and his people and culture" (par. 3). The blues are inherently linked to the mood and the plot of the story (par. 4). The message of blues music, just as the message of the story, is of just as much importance as the form (par. 5). This also ties into the depth and desperation of the black experience is also reflected in this music, and Sonny's brother's acceptance of Sonny's music at the end of the story is symbolic of his acceptance and return to his black community (par. 5).

As the blues are used to sustain general mood and the racial theme of the story, the jazz motif in the story is symbolical of the theme of individualism (par. 6). Playing jazz, especially on the piano, requires a strong sense of individuality, with a constant awareness of and reliance on the other players in the group (par. 6). Sonny's drug problems and general personality give him the same type of independence and reliance in real life. Sonny also closely resembles his idol, Charlie Parker, in terms of the arc of his life; both became heroin users early in life, and over-indulged in "drink, drugs, and sex" (par. 7). Baldwin's choice of Charlie Parker, "the "Bird," as Sonny' idol has further symbolic relevance. "Parker flew freely and soared to the heights in all aspects of his life;" Parker symbolizes the new, wild side of jazz, not the old, classy variety played by Louis Armstrong that Sonny's brother thinks of (par. 7-9). In fact, Armstrong was often viewed as a kind of sell-out or race-traitor of a certain degree by many black musicians (par. 10). This parallels Sonny's brothers attempts to remove himself from Harlem and the stereotypical black life; he strives to be a respectable math teacher and escape his path (par. 10).