Jazz 101 is a fascinating entr├®e into the world of jazz, for the beginner, novice, or jazz enthusiast. Szwed takes listeners on a tour of the varied and nonlinear history of jazz, exploring how it developed from an ethnic music to become America's most popular music and then part of the avant-garde in less than fifty years. Szwed's complete overview includes the major types of jazz and significant jazz musicians of the twentieth century; the roots of jazz, including its European and African influences; and recommended listening, plus appendixes on jazz singers, record guides, and more.
Infinitely readable and highly entertaining, Jazz 101 is a vital tool in understanding and appreciating jazz.
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"The basic thing about jazz is all here! Periodical history of jazz style, best jazz musicians, best jazz albums, everything is here! Beginners will love this book, jazz master would also love this book.. "
— Cherika (4 out of 5 stars)
“John Szwed’s tone is refreshing…his notes on landmark recordings are concise gems.”
— AudioFile“Very worthwhile.”
— Booklist" The basic thing about jazz is all here! Periodical history of jazz style, best jazz musicians, best jazz albums, everything is here! Beginners will love this book, jazz master would also love this book.. "
— Cherika, 8/15/2012" I pretty good introduction to the subject. I certainly learned a lot! "
— Simon, 6/1/2012" Well written introduction of Jazz. "
— doug, 3/4/2011" Well written introduction of Jazz. "
— doug, 7/18/2008John F. Szwed is professor of music and director of the Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University. As a jazz musician, he played professionally for more than a decade. He is the author of sixteen books, including So What: The Life of Miles Davis, Space Is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra, and Alan Lomax: The Man Who Recorded the World.
Grover Gardner (a.k.a. Tom Parker) is an award-winning narrator with over a thousand titles to his credit. Named one of the “Best Voices of the Century” and a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, he has won three prestigious Audie Awards, was chosen Narrator of the Year for 2005 by Publishers Weekly, and has earned more than thirty Earphones Awards.