Award-winning composer and writer Joe Clark teams up with bestselling comic creator Kyle Higgins (Radiant Black) for Deep Cuts, a sweeping saga of jazz, ambition, and the rhythm of the American soul. The Eisner Award–nominated graphic novel, now available in paperback from Image Comics, spans sixty years of musical evolution brought to life by an all-star lineup of artists.
A Legacy Written in Melody
The story begins with the death of a jazz legend. Rising musicians Barry and Alice set out to honor the icon they never met, uncovering the forgotten legacies of five extraordinary artists whose intertwined lives defined an era. Their journey moves from the smoke-filled clubs of 1917 New Orleans to the neon glow of 1968 Los Angeles, tracing the evolution of music and the people who risked everything to follow its call.
Each chapter riffs on the last, like musicians echoing one another across generations, building a shared “found family” through the universal language of sound. The result is a lyrical, emotional crescendo celebrating the truth that good music never dies.
Real History, Real Inspiration
Clark brings deep musical credibility to the project. His award-winning compositions have been performed by Yo-Yo Ma, Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, Kurt Elling, and members of the Chicago Symphony and Louisiana Philharmonic. His arrangements even appear on Kanye West and Malik Yusef’s album G.O.O.D. Morning G.O.O.D. Night.
“One of the deepest joys of music is discovering the connections between artists—leaders and sidemen, composers and arrangers,” said Clark. “Our story is fictional, but rooted in the real people and communities who created this music.”
Homage to the Masters
Throughout Deep Cuts, nods to legends such as Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole, Charlie Parker, and Duke Ellington are woven into composite characters. Their struggles, triumphs, and creativity shape a fictional history that mirrors America’s musical heartbeat.
The series is packed with historical Easter eggs: the 1926 Hot Peppers sessions, the kidnapping of Mary McElroy, the rise of Crawdaddy magazine, references to Hunter S. Thompson, Tom Wolfe, and even The Wizard of Oz. From Storyville to Sunset Boulevard, every note carries a piece of cultural history.
A Chorus of Talent
Higgins and Clark are joined by an ensemble of acclaimed artists including Danilo Beyruth, Helena Masellis, Diego Greco, Ramón K. Pérez (Stillwater), Juni Ba (Monkey Meat), and Toby Cypress (The Gravedigger’s Union), with colors by Igor Monti (Radiant Black).
“I often say the best part of making comics is collaboration,” said Higgins. “Joe and I met in high school jazz band and have been creating together for twenty-five years. Deep Cuts is the culmination of that friendship—where jazz and comics meet, proving the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts.”
Music on the Page
To complete the experience, Deep Cuts includes lead sheets of original songs written by Chicago jazz composers, each inspired by a chapter of the story.
Deep Cuts is more than a comic. It’s a love letter to the musicians who shaped America’s sound and a testament to the timeless rhythm of creation itself.
