'Something to Live For' investigates and analyses the entire oeuvre of Billy Strayhorn, who, for over 30 years, was the musical collaborator of Duke Ellington. Nearly 70 music examples, drawn directly from his original autograph scores, provide insight into the development of Strayhorn's own musical language and style.
Exploring the intricate relationship between jazz and death, this book delves into various cultural phenomena such as the New Orleans "jazz funeral," the portrayal of jazz in afterlife narratives, and the significance of final recordings. It also addresses the concept of jazz's own mortality and the memorialization of musicians through jazz monuments. Through critical analysis, the work highlights how jazz serves as a medium for understanding and representing death across different contexts.