An Annotated Bibliography of The Grackle:
Improvised Music in Transition (1976–1979)

By Pierre Crépon

Introduction

On a page of the Autumn 1976 issue of The Grackle, under a volley of typographic symbols, a slogan fills a random corner of blank space: “Support non-commodious music and musicians.” This was what The Grackle did, over the course of five dense issues published between 1976 and 1979. Subtitled Improvised Music in Transition, the Brooklyn-based journal addressed many of the issues facing the music during the complex 1970s from a unique intellectual vantage point.

In addition to Ron Welburn as managing editor, The Grackle’s first installment listed Roger Riggins and avant-garde saxophonist James T. Stewart as the two other members of the editorial board. [1] ”People who start publications tend to call on their friends and fellow devotees to contribute. Essentially that’s how it was,” Welburn says in Ain’t But a Few of Us: Black Music Writers Tell Their Story. “The Grackle was meant to be a forum of ideas for the three men of color who created it: James T. Stewart, Roger Riggins, and me. I invited Victor Manuel Rosa to write on Latin/Nuyorican music. But I turned away at least two white writers who virtually begged for opportunities to contribute. I didn’t like doing that, but I told them that they had outlets not available to us and that, being in the early stages of the publication, we had ideas we wanted to work out. But it’s hard trying to create our own vehicles.” [2]

The Grackle’s first editorial statement was signed by Welburn. “The editors are responding to the frustration of getting reviews and essays on music and culture published, and intend a forum free of such artificialities as ‘acceptable newspaper/journal style,’” he wrote. “Music is being created and issues exist. [...] The Grackle may be of a slightly different hue than publications like Down Beat, Coda, Jazz Journal, Black Music, Bells, Rythme et musique, Jazz Magazine, Rolling Stone, or The New York Times; as such it jumps in the pan offering another point of view on Improvisational Music.”

“The three of us started The Grackle on a shoestring,” Welburn adds in Ain’t But a Few of Us. “We went from typewriter to newsprint; then we had to distribute it ourselves — plus, one of the partners didn’t turn in any money from sales! Our mail order operation was unsophisticated. I found myself doing more than my share as managing editor, and after the fifth issue I closed it down. [...] There’s so much involved in self-publishing a journal. And you have to make sure you’re doing business legally: a seemingly minor issue, but it involves registration of the ‘business’ and keeping track of taxation, especially if you plan to sell magazines.” [3]

The Grackle was among the many periodicals covered by John Gray in his reference work Fire Music: A Bibliography of the New Jazz, 1959–1990. [4] Gray’s approach, in the context of a work covering free jazz as a whole, was necessarily selective. The following bibliography attempts to present a complete picture of The Grackle’s broad scope.

The full text of all issues of The Grackle has been made available as part of RIPM Jazz, a database of digitized jazz journals accessible through institutional subscription. [5]

The Grackle 1 (1976)

• Welburn, Ron. “Editor’s Statement.” The Grackle 1 (1976): n.p. [Statement about journal title and positioning.]
• Rosen, Steve. “Interview with Anthony Braxton.” The Grackle 1 (1976): 1–7. [Interview with Anthony Braxton.]
• Welburn, Ron. “Some Important Voices.” The Grackle 1 (1976): 8–9. [Article on the Pointers Sisters, Eddie Jefferson, Joe Lee Wilson, and Harold McKinney.]
• Welburn, William. “Inside the Outside: An Interview with Carlos Ward.” The Grackle 1 (1976): 10–12. [Interview with Carlos Ward.]
• Riggins, Roger. [Record Review: Anthony Braxton: Five Pieces 1975] The Grackle 1 (1976): 13–14.
• Stewart, James. “A Review Essay.” [Book Review: Arnold Shaw: The World of Soul: Black America’s Contribution to the Pop Music Scene] The Grackle 1 (1976): 15–21.

The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976)

• “Jimmy Garrison: A Memorium.” The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 2. [Short memorial to Jimmy Garrison.]
• Welburn, Ron. “Editorial: Is It Still Called Avant-Garde?” The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 4, 33–37. [Article on concept of “avant-garde.”]
• Rosa, Victor Manuel. “Interview: Marion Brown.” The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 5–16. [Interview with Marion Brown.]
• Fuller, R. Buckminster. “The New Architecture: Live Music.” The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 17–18. [Reprinted from Saturday Review.]
• Riggins, Roger. “Interview: David Murray.” The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 19–22. [Interview with David Murray.]
• Riggins, Roger. “In Concert: Air.” [Concert Review: Air: Tin Palace, New York, NY] The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 23–24.
• Stewart, James. “Just Intonation and the New Black Revolutionary Music.” The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 25–29. [Article on the relationship of the new Black music with Western white musical criterions; reprinted in revised form from The Cricket 2 (n.d., ca. 1968): 11–15.]
• “Concert Series Listings.” The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 30. [Concert announcements: Tin Palace–Studio Infinity Avant-Garde Series, Music for Cartographers Jazz Series at La MaMa, Harlem Performance Center date.]
• “Independently Produced Records.” The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 30. [Short list of independent records available from New Music Distribution Center or directly from labels.]
• Riggins, Roger. “Roger Riggins Inter/Views Roger Riggins.” The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 31–32. [Roger Riggins self-interview.]
• Riggins, Roger. [Record Review: Frank Lowe: The Flam] The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 37.
• [Book Review: D. Antoinette Handy: Black Music: Opinions & Reviews] The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 38–40.
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: Jimmy Heath: Picture of Heath] The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 41–42.
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: Charles Tyler Ensemble: Voyage from Jericho] The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 42–43.
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: Steve Reid: Rhythmatism] The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 43.
• [Record Review: Hermeto Pascoal: Hermeto] The Grackle 2 (Spring 1976): 44.

The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976)

• Editorial. The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 2. [Editorial announcing continued publication of the journal on an irregular basis.]
• “Editorial-Review: Jazz Is ....Free…?” [Book Review: Nat Hentoff: Jazz Is] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 4, 31–33.
• “Editorial-Review: Jazz Is ....Free…?” [Book Review: Ekkehard Jost: Free Jazz] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 4, 31–33.
• “Editorial-Review: Jazz Is ....Free…?” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 4, 31–33. [Discussion of Jazz Meets the World album and other similar attempts.] [7]
• Welburn, Ron. “A Few Words about Herbie Nichols.” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 5–6. [Article on Herbie Nichols.]
• Welburn, Ron. “An Interview with Steve Lacy.” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 7–15. [Interview with Steve Lacy.]
• Riggins, Roger. [Record Review: Steve Lacy: Solo] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 15.
• Rosa, Victor Manuel. [Record Review: Mongo Santamaria: Afro-Roots] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 16.
• Riggins, Roger. “Roger Riggins Inter/Views Roger Riggins.” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 17–22. [Roger Riggins self-interview.]
• Riggins, Roger. [Record Review: Lee Konitz: Satori] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 22.
• Riggins, Roger. [Record Review: Dave Burrell: High Won-High Two] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 23.
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: Jimmy Giuffre Three: River Chant] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 24.
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: Rava: Quotation Marks] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 25.
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: Enrico Rava: The Pilgrim and the Stars] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 25.
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: Dave Holland–Sam Rivers: Dave Holland–Sam Rivers] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 26.
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: Oliver Lake: Passin’ Thru] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 27.
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: Oliver Lake: NTU: Point from Which Creation Begins] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 27.
• Riggins, Roger. [Record Review: Revolutionary Ensemble: The People’s Republic] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 28–29.
• Riggins, Roger. [Record Review: Anthony Braxton: Creative Orchestra Music 1976] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 29.
• “Albums Reviews.” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 30. [Capsule reviews, mostly Inner City label reissues, including Archie Shepp, Don Cherry, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Anthony Braxton, and Jean-Luc Ponty.]
• Riggins, Roger. “Density #3 (Visual and Acoustic Space): Related and Unrelated Matter in a Technologically Stimulated Area.” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 34–36. [Article on the “highly stimulated and complex systems at work on our brains and nervous systems.”]
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: Chris Connor: The Finest of Chris Connor] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 37.
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: Nina Simone: The Finest of Nina Simone] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 37.
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: Carmen McRae: The Finest of Carmen McRae] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 37.
• Welburn, Ron. “Album Reviews: A Batch of Keyboard Offerings.” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 38–41. [Capsule reviews of releases by Oscar Peterson, John Bunch, Teddy Wilson, Piano Red, Mary Lou Williams, Claude Hopkins, Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith, Don Ewell, Jay McShann, Sonny Clark, Mickey Tucker, Erroll Garner, Joanne Brackeen, Terry Plumeri, and Michael J. Smith.]
• Riggins, Roger. “An Interview with Paul Bley: The Politics of the Improvisor.” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 42–43. [Interview with Paul Bley.]
• [Record Review: Kenny Dorham: The Kenny Dorham Memorial Album] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 44.
• [Record Review: Howard McGhee: Shades of Blue] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 44.
• [Record Review: The Australian Jazz Quartet: The Australian Jazz Quartet] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 44–45.
• “Blowing Out of Chicago.” [Record Review: Johnny Griffin/John Coltrane/Hank Mobley: Blowin’ Sessions] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 45–47.
• “Blowing Out of Chicago.” [Record Review: Johnny Griffin: You Leave Me Breathless] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 45–47.
• “Blowing Out of Chicago.” [Record Review: Clifford Jordan Quartet: Night of the Mark VII] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 45–47.
• “Blowing Out of Chicago.” [Record Review: E. Parker McDougal/Chicago Hard-Core Jazz: Initial Visit] The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 45–47.
• “Some New (And Not So New) Periodicals.” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 47. [Contact information for Bells, Black Perspective in Music, Cadence, New York Jazz Gazette, Caribbeat, Jazz Magazine, and Musics.]
• “Album Reviews (Continued, Last Minute).” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 48–49. [Capsule reviews of releases by Rashied Ali, Joe Lee Wilson, Steve Reid, Charles Bobo Shaw, Oneness of Juju, Bob Reid, and Eddie Jefferson.]
• “Notes.” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 50. [Notes about independent records distributors, New York Jazz Gazette, and Horo.]
• “Books of Interest.” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 51–52. [List of recently published books of interest.]
• “A Few New Releases.” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 52–53. [List of new releases from independent labels Advance, Birth, Capra, Cornpride, Emanem, Eucalyptus, Finnadar, Fourth Stream, Music Language, Opus One, Spitball, Sackville, Seabreeze, Wizard, Freelance.]
• “About the Editors.” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 54.
• “Race and Revolution.” The Grackle 3 (Autumn 1976): 55. [I Ching hexagram of revolution; reprinted from Black Review 1 (1971), itself reprinting it from I Ching (The Book of Change), trans. and ed. John Blofield (New York: Dutton, 1968).]

The Grackle 4 (1977/1978)

• Jones, Patricia. “something for david murray.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 1. [Poem.]
• Editorial. The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 2. [Editorial about journal’s irregular periodicity, interest in obtaining grants, and upcoming critics symposium.]
• Riggins, Roger. “Thoughts of a Native Son: The Berlin Jazztage and the Alternative Total Music Meeting.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 4. [Article on the European avant-garde, based on “pirated tapes” of the 1976 Total Music Meeting.]
• Welburn, Ron. “Ralph Ellison’s Territorial Vantage.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 5–10, 12–15. [Interview with Ralph Ellison.] [8]
• Welburn, Ron. “Building from the Urban Indigenous Aesthetic.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 11, 15. [Article on urban “neo-African” music, with capsule reviews of releases by Eddie Gale, Infinite Sound, Brother Aah, and Michael Gregory Jackson.]
• Rosa, Victor. “Salsa Review.” [Record Review: Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nuevayorquino: Lo dice todo] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 16, 36.
• Rosa, Victor. “Salsa Review.” [Record Review: Libre: Con salsa... Con ritmo, Vol. 1] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 16, 36.
• Rosa, Victor. “Salsa Review.” [Record Review: Cachao: Cachao y su Descarga ‘77’ Vol. 1] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 16, 36.
• Welburn, Ron. “Two Ways to Animate: George Adams and David Murray.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 17. [Article on George Adams and David Murray, based on recent recordings.]
• “In Concert.” [Concert Review: Roy Haynes Quintet: Joyous Lake, Woodstock, NY] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 18, 25.
• Rosa, Victor. “Tambor Gitano/Drum Gypsy: An Interview with Armando Peraza.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 19–20. [Interview-based profile of Armando Peraza.]
• Welburn, Ron. Note. The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 20. [Short note about Stafford James’s Jazz a confronto LP.]
• Welburn, Ron. “From the Other Side.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 21. [Article on the European avant-garde through Emanem and FMP releases, Michael J. Smith also discussed.]
• Welburn, Ron. “Lines of Trumpet Descent.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 22, 25. [Panorama of jazz trumpet, with references of relevant recordings.]
• Stewart, James T. “A Transcription/Transposition Quandary: Quarantine or a ‘New Music’?” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 23–25. [Article on black musicians being quarantined out of Western tempered music establishment through imprecise musical environment and the predominance of transposing instruments.]
• Welburn, Ron. “The Black Saints and Sackvilles.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 26. [Capsule reviews of releases by 360 Degree Music Experience, Steve Lacy, Oliver Lake, Enrico Rava, Don Pullen, Roscoe Mitchell, Joseph Bowie–Oliver Lake, and Dave Holland–Karl Berger.]
• Riggins, Roger. “Systems of Organization in Contemporary Music and the Philosophical Imperative.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 27. [Article on music as an art operating above conventional systems of information.]
• Welburn, Ron. “In the Domestic Tributary.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 28–29. [Capsule reviews of releases by Paul Bley/Jimmy Giuffre/Bill Connors, Ran Blake, Steve Lacy–Michael J. Smith, Eric Kloss–Barry Miles, Iowa Ear Music, and Oregon–Elvin Jones.]
• Rosa, Victor. “Sones del Guajiro Negro, #3: Beyond Manteca.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 30, 43. [Capsule reviews of releases by Dizzy Gillespie–Machito, Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria, and Chucho Valdés.]
• Welburn, Ron. “Some Improvising Orchestras: Texture, Color, Shape, Organization, Direction.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 31–36. [Article on larger bands in creative music.]
• Welburn, Ron. “Ronnie Boykins: Interview.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 37–43. [Interview with Ronnie Boykins.]
• Welburn, Ron, and Joseph Banks. “The Early SteepleChase Releases.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 44. [Overview of Steeplechase label releases recently licensed by Inner City.]
• [Record Review: Hamiet Bluiett: Endangered Species] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 44.
• Riggins, Roger. [Record Review: Frederic Rzewski: First Recordings] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 45–46.
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: Frank Lowe: The Other Side] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 46.
• Welburn, Ron. [Record Review: James Newton: Flute Music] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 46.
• Riggins, Roger. [Book Review: Leo Smith: Notes (8 Pieces) Source a New World Music: Creative Music] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 47–48.
• Stewart, James T. “Book Review-Essay Feature.” [Book Review: Bill Cole: John Coltrane] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 49–53.
• Welburn, Ron. [Book Review: Rob Backus: Fire Music: A Political History of Jazz] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 53–54.
• Welburn, Ron. [Book Review: Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler: The Encyclopedia of Jazz in the Seventies] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 54.
• Welburn, Ron. [Book Review: Yusef Lateef: Spheres] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 54.
• Rosa, Victor Manuel, and Ron Welburn. [Book Review: Albert Murray: Stomping the Blues] The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 54.
• Directory distributors. The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 55.
• “About the Editors.” The Grackle 4 (1977/1978): 55.

The Grackle 5 (1979)

• Riggins, Roger. “'In Bad Faith?'” The Grackle 5 (1979): 2–3. [Short response to Richard Burgin, “Jazz in Bad Faith,” New York Arts Journal, April/May 1979.]
• “The Grackle’s Critics Symposium.” The Grackle 5 (1979): 3–5, 9–10. [Answers to questionnaire about music criticism from Henry Rock, Vernon Gibbs, Roger Riggins, Max Salazar, Lorenzo Thomas, Ron Welburn.]
• Stewart, James T. “Essay-Review: Anthony Braxton, The Complete Braxton.” The Grackle 5 (1979): 5–8. [Article on total solo playing and harmonic frameworks, using Anthony Braxton as point of departure.]
• International Jazz Federation. [Advertisement.] The Grackle 5 (1979): 10.
• Welburn, Ron. “A Conversation with Hamiet Bluiett.” The Grackle 5 (1979): 11–13. [Interview with Hamiet Bluiett.]
• Stewart, James T. “Sound, Noise, and Audio Debris.” The Grackle 5 (1979): 14. [Article on the nature of musical sound and the possibility of a stochastic music.]
• New Morning bookstore (New York). [Advertisement.] The Grackle 5 (1979): 14.
• [Record Review: Mike Moss/Four Rivers: Upstream] The Grackle 5 (1979): 15.
• [Record Review: Mike Moss/Four Rivers: Cross Current] The Grackle 5 (1979): 15.
• Riggins, Roger. “Modern Gothic: An Interview with Anthony Davis.” The Grackle 5 (1979): 15–16. [Interview with Anthony Davis.]
• Buchanan, Steve. “A Conversation with James Newton.” The Grackle 5 (1979): 16–19. [Interview with James Newton.]
• Riggins, Roger. “The Jerome Cooper Interview.” The Grackle 5 (1979): 19–20. [Interview with Jerome Cooper.]
• SoHo Music Gallery Records & Accessories (New York). [Advertisement.] The Grackle 5 (1979): 20.
• Rosa, Victor M. “Hilton Ruiz: New Rican Piano Man.” The Grackle 5 (1979): 21. [Profile of Hilton Ruiz.]
• [Record Review: For Example: Workshop Freie Musik 1969–1978] The Grackle 5 (1979): 21.
• [Record Review: Pharoah Sanders: Love Will Find a Way] The Grackle 5 (1979): 21.
• [Record Review: Willem Breuker & Leo Cuypers: ...Superstars] The Grackle 5 (1979): 21.
• Stewart, James T. “On the Marketability of Improvised Music.” The Grackle 5 (1979): 22–25. [Article on music ownership, marketability under art and popular categories.]
• Welburn, Ron. “Some Limits to Modal Improvising Today: The Sonny Rollins Example.” The Grackle 5 (1979): 22–24. [Article on modal improvising and its limits through the example of Sonny Rollins.]
• Welburn, Ron. “Album Reviews.” The Grackle 5 (1979): 25–27. [Capsule reviews of releases by Don Pullen, Art Brooks, Abdullah Sami, Sunny Murray, John Tchicai, William Hooker, Buddy Spicher, David Murray, Mal Waldron, Paul Gresham, Grumpff, John Carter, Milford Graves, Luther Thomas, Synthesis, Lee Konitz, Perry Robinson, Ensemble Muntu, David Eyges, Baird Hersey, Oliver Lake, INTERface, Dollar Brand, Buddy Tate, Barry Wallenstein, and Monnette Sudler.]

Author Information: 
Pierre Crépon is an independent researcher based in France. He has written for The Wire, New York City Jazz Record, Point of Departure, and Improjazz, among others. His research deals with the history of avant-garde jazz, with a particular focus on the American and French scenes of the sixties and seventies.

Abstract: 
An annotated bibliography of the American magazine The Grackle covering its entire publication run of five issues from 1976 to 1979.

Keywords:
Grackle, Ron Welburn, James T. Stewart, Roger Riggins, Victor Manuel Rosa, bibliography, jazz

How to cite this article:

• Chicago: Crépon, Pierre. “An Annotated Bibliography of The Grackle: Improvised Music in Transition (1976–1979).” Current Research in Jazz 17 (2025). Accessed [date of access]. https://www.crj-online.org/v17/CRJ-Grackle.php.
• MLA: Crépon, Pierre. “An Annotated Bibliography of The Grackle: Improvised Music in Transition (1976–1979).” Current Research in Jazz vol. 17, 2025, https://www.crj-online.org/v17/CRJ-Grackle.php. Accessed [date of access].
• APA: Crépon, P. (2025). An Annotated Bibliography of The Grackle: Improvised Music in Transition (1976–1979). Current Research in Jazz, 17. https://www.crj-online.org/v17/CRJ-Grackle.php

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