I am tempted to look for convenient explanations of this phenomenon, and this leads me on to another thing i like about this book. Are there any books that you would recommend to a beginner in order to become more familiar with jazz. The penguin jazz guide by brian morton, richard cook. He even includes a suggested listening section at the back of the book. About the penguin jazz guide richard cook and brian mortons penguin jazz guide. It took two attempts over 10 years, but i finally finished ted gioias big book of jazz history. Like many of the best jazz history books, this was written by the musician himself. Here are the giants of jazz and the great moments of jazz historyjelly roll morton, louis armstrong, duke ellington at the cotton club, cool jazz greats such as gerry mulligan, stan getz, and lester young, charlie parker and dizzy gillespies advocacy of modern jazz in the 1940s, miles daviss 1955 performance at. The term cool derives from what journalists perceived as an understated or subdued feeling in the music of miles davis, the modern jazz quartet, gerry mulligan, lennie tristano, and others. The scene is very active across the city in nightclubs, festivals and local talent.
One thing about the genre is its so rich with history. Richard cook and brian mortons penguin guide to jazz recordings is firmly established as the worlds leading guide to the music. The best jazz books of all time biographies of the jazz greats. It was identified in the 1994 book the new book of rock lists as the worst song ever released by a major label. From any of these titles you can follow threads to go deeper into specific subjects like regional styles and the lives of influential blues musicians. Beginning with the african musical heritage and its fusion with european forms in the new world, marshall stearnss history of jazz guides the reader through work songs, spirituls, ragtime, and the blues, to the birth of jazz in new orleans and its adoption by st louis, chicago, kansas city, and new york. Gioias current interests cover a wide range of musical areas. The autobiography by miles davis, saying something. Oct 01, 2012 the best allover survey book ive read is the jazz book by joachim berendt. Mar 31, 2020 here are the booksfiction, nonfiction, and photographicthat no detroit bookshelf should be without. The history of jazz, second edition audiobook by ted. The history of jazz pdf book best seller directories. This section includes books on jazz and music theory, transcribed jazz solos, real books, jazz history, jazz analysis and many other resources. The best jazz books of all time biographies of the jazz.
Reggie nadelsons top 10 jazz books books the guardian. A french edition was published by editions fillipacchi in paris in 1986 to great critical acclaim. Im looking for a good jazz book, with the history and development of jazz music what i want. May 09, 2011 ted gioia is a musician, author, and leading jazz critic and expert on american music.
Scott deveaux takes a central chapter in the history of jazzthe birth of bebopand shows how our contemporary ideas of this uniquely american art form flow from that pivotal moment. Today chicago continues its proud history of being rich in jazz culture. Knowledgeable, vibrant, and comprehensive, it is among the small group of books that can truly be called classics of jazz literature. Jazz improvisation and interaction by ingrid monson, chicago ja. He was bringing chicowho was born in havana in 1921 and died in new york city in 2001, and had left cuba for good in 1959back home. He is also the author of delta blues, west coast jazz, work songs and the birth and death of the cool. I was wondering if any of you know of any good books that properly tell the story of jazz and do it justice. No one has ever satisfyingly defined the word jazz but berendts attempt is the best. The story of a sound by ben ratliff ben ratliff writes really well about jazz and thats a difficult thing to do, ira gitler has a swath of great books on jazz. The history of jazz is a very well written survey of a very extensive subject. Five best books on jazz john edward hasse, curator of american music at the smithsonians national museum of american history, founder of national jazz appreciation month, and author of beyond category. I consider myself pretty knowledgeable on the subject of jazz or at least, certain periods and styles, and even with my reasonably good background, i learned a tremendous amount about the art form that i love. This book is the place to go if you want a definitive look at the roots.
The history of jazz is closely intertwined with many of these other hybrid genres, and tracing the various genealogies can prove dauntingly complex. Rhino records also included it on the worlds worst records. Jazz dance mirrors the social history of the american people, reflecting ethnic influences, historic events, and cultural changes. Indispensable to african american literary and cultural studies, jazz studies, and internationalist leftist. From womans suffrage to babe ruths home runs, from louis armstrongs jazz to franklin delano roosevelts four presidential terms, from the finale of one world war. From louis armstrong and charlie parker through to miles davis and keith jarrett, heres our pick of the recommended reads. One mans introduction to jazz at the record store, tom cole spent most of his time warding off scornful looks as he toted mothers of invention lps around. Nov 02, 2012 a brief history of jazz education, pt. Outlet book company staff and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Some, such as the seminal blues people, do a great job of exposing the. I just want to put a list up of what i think of as some of most influential or effective jazz improv books. With books about everything from jazz and jackie robinson to slavery and segregation, there are many rich biographies and themes to explore with children during black history month february or any time of year. Set in harlem during the jazz age, this is the story.
The legendary stardust cowboy developed a cult following and is an outsider music icon who. The history of the music in 1001 best albums is an indispensible guide to the recordings that every fan should know. For most of its history, afrocuban jazz had been a matter of superimposing jazz phrasing over cuban rhythms. For example, minstrel shows, which developed in the decades before the civil war, found white performers in blackface mimicking, and most often ridiculing, the music, dance, and culture of the.
The history of jazz, has really helped me fill in some gaps in my jazz education, so that i am once again inspired to continue my musical education, both as a player and a jazz writer. Jazz began in the early twentieth century in new orleans, in the u. The jazz ear will be a permanent part of learning how to listen inside the musicians playing. Ted gioias 10chapter book takes a respectable dive into the backgrounds of the various movements of jazz, giving a great introduction to the major players and foundational works of each movement. From louis armstrong and charlie parker through to miles davis and keith jarrett, heres our pick of the recommended reads to get to grips with jazz history. This is an oral history of jazz published in 1955, in which a huge range of musicians from that time and earlier talk about the music, themselves and each. We chose books that were about or feature detroit, but not necessarily those written by a. Best jazz books for you to read 2020 weve compiled this collection of some of the best jazz books of all time to unravel the stories behind the lives of some of the jazz greats. Two of the best jazz writers and scholars give us a pretty definitive history of jazz music, which even as it teaches, manages to swing. The history of jazz ted gioia oxford university press. The history of jazz is often lauded as an essential primer into the story of jazz, and rightly so. Anonymous just remember to make the best music you have the ability. Heres a brief introductory list presented in no particular order of informative and readable books about general blues history, styles, and people. The scholastic history of jazz resource site is full of audio clips, history, and research starters on the subject of jazz.
My life in new orleans louis armstrong louis armstrongs exuberant firsthand account of new orleans at the turn of the 20th century. The history of jazz by ted gioia and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The title of this book is history and tradition of jazz and it was written by larson thomas e. The history of jazz voice overs and arrangement julian wittich and reese mcmillan editor darryl loke musicians james lee, colton shaner, reese mcmillan. In order to be a part of the jazz movement one must accept change. Now, in ted gioias the history of jazz, we have at last a book that captures all these colors on one glorious palate. In the 1930s swing music was everywhereon radio, recordings, and in the great ballrooms, hotels, theatres, and clubs. The comprehensiveness of the history of european jazz is perhaps its biggest draw the book adds valuable detail to the welltrodden paths of continental jazz history, such as the british traditional jazz revival, the foundation of jazz festivals in nice, juanlespins, or montreux to name only a few, or the numerous jazz scenes that. Cool jazz, a style of jazz that emerged in the united states during the late 1940s.
We had to read this book for my first year in jazz studies at the eastman school of music. There is a good reason this book is used as a text in several jazz and music history classes. Almost a preface most books on the history of jazz music, even the ones published very recently see the bibliography, tend to devote 8090% of the pages to jazz before the sixties, and then to quickly summarize with countless omissions the last 40 years. Jazz is a chameleon art, delighting us with the ease and rapidity with which it changes colors. But by the end of the 1970s, a new generation of new york city musicians had emerged who were fluent in both salsa dance music and jazz, leading to a new level of integration of jazz and cuban rhythms. A wellwritten, widelyresearched, enjoyable read for both fans and scholars of jazz. A blog supreme today, institutions of higher learning high schools, summer camps and universitylevel programs are an industry unto themselves. He is also the author of delta blues, west coast jazz, work songs and the birth and death of. Collected works, a journal of jazz whitney balliett treat it gentle sidney bechet. An introduction to the history and legends behind americas music is a fabulous book. The history of the guitar in jazz is truely a journey to the soul of the jazz guitar, that has inspired a new generation of guitarists and jazz fans since its publication. Great jazz books for you to read weve compiled this collection of a handful of the best jazz books of all time to unravel the stories behind the lives of some of the jazz greats.
The all time best seller of jazz albums, as williams points out, kind of blue exists in a world of its own. The language of jazz or the jazz idiom is in a constant state of flux. Join grammyaward winning trumpeter and artistic director of jazz at lincoln center wynton marsalis on a tour of jazz see the people, read about the events, and listen to the music. Nat hentoff, jazz timesjazz is conducted almost wordlessly. Gioias most recent book, the history of jazz, was selected as one of the twenty best books of the year by jonathan yardley in the washington post, and has earned praise for its expansive and balanced survey of the entire jazz tradition from buddy bolden to wynton marsalis. Jul 22, 2018 please click the bell to get updates and dont forget to subscribe. Features descriptions of all the important players and places in jazz history. To play jazz requires discipline, and discipline is good for all of us. Lots of good trivia and with decent biographies of some of the greats. For critical books, i like jazz is by nat hentoff, the jazz ear by ben ratliff, coltrane. Or one that discusses jazz from an artistictheoretical standpoint.
Jazz history, in chronological order preferably, not too much about vocal jazz not interested at all special enphasis on the 50s and 60s up to jazz fusion not interested in samples for hip hop and all that. Jazz has changed greatly over the past 70 years and is presently in transition. Quotes tagged jazz if music is a place then jazz is the city, folk is the wilderness, rock is the road, classical is a temple. Although its an academic approach of an improvisation art it provides great background and history on a genre of music that is truly the cornerstone of the modern american sound. In the book, he reveals how it was made, what influenced miles, the musicians he worked with. An agebyage guide to the best historical fiction books for kids. Jul, 2017 cuba is the missing link in jazz history. Gioias history is thorough and well thought through. Tons of runs for the contemporary pianist by laverne. The richest place in americas musical landscape is that fertile ground occupied by jazz. This book is a necessary investment for any jazz afficianado.
There were lots of musical influences in the area of new orleans, as many different nationalities travelled through the port for varying reasons. Jazz dance has been greatly influenced by social dance and popular music. Ted gioia writes a very unbiased book on the history of jazz. Head to the green mill in chicagos north side uptown neighborhood for classic live jazz every night of the week.
I have read practically every jazz history book that was published in the past 50 years. She started out playing in a swing band and moved every decade into a new arena of music, doing modal stuff in the 70s. The first edition of his the history of jazz was selected as one of the twenty best books of the year in the washington post, and was chosen as a notable book of the year in the new york times. Jun 11, 2016 well, it depends do you want a book that discusses jazz from an experientialhistorical viewpoint. Ted gioia is a musician, author, and leading jazz critic and expert on american music. But, like so much that is from america, the history of jazz dance begins somewhere else. The life and genius of duke ellington, named a five best list of books on jazz for the wall street journal. In celebration of black history month, i am celebrating the book jazz by one of my daughters author, walter dean myers. Ted gioias the history of jazz is a quintessential jazz book. Many of the documentaries books have lots of opinions, but ted gioia tries to remain neutral. Ive been trying to explore the jazz genre more recently and think that learning more about jazz, specifically the history, development, and theory, would help me enjoy it more.
Diverse picture books about jazz and african american jazz legends. Jun 30, 2011 the first edition of his the history of jazz was selected as one of the twenty best books of the year in the washington post, and was chosen as a notable book of the year in the new york times. Ive listened to so much and discovered so many great musicians but ive only scratched the surface. From this split in the early 40s between jazz as art music, and popular music with a vocal focus, the history of jazz follows the art branch the other turning into the history of rock and roll in. He is also the author of delta blues, west coast jazz, work songs and. The birth of bebop 1999, which he wrote solo, and jazz 2009, which he coauthored with gary giddins. Pictorial history jazz abebooks abebooks shop for books.
Jazz history, in chronological order preferably, not too much about vocal jazz not interested at all special enphasis on the 50s and 60s up to jazz fusion. I am using it as an aid in teaching my highschool class the history of jazz. This is a unique, exquisitely written meditation on miles davis album, king of blue. Vera nazarian 211 likes real women dont love the richest guy in the world they love the guy who can make their world the richest. John coltrane rarely told his quartet what to do, and miles davis famously gave his group. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Nov 01, 20 im looking for a good jazz book, with the history and development of jazz music what i want.