Jazz for Dummies

By James Andrew Miller

Book Overview

Every jazz lover's got his or her favorites. For some, it's John Coltrane's breathy, bitter-sweat ballad, "Naima." For others, it's Duke Ellington's hard-jiving swing opus "Take the A Train." Then there's Miles Davis's epic-making Kind of Blue , the improv tour de force in which Miles, Trane, and Cannonball trade solos and achieve sheer melodic transcendence. Whether you like it hip or mellow, hot or cool, Dixieland or avant garde, jazz is a vast and many-faceted sound space (and soul space) that you could spend a lifetime exploring. And it couldn't hurt to have a savvy guide like former Los Angeles Times jazz critic and author Dirk Sutro to help you navigate its many depths and riches. In Jazz For Dummies , Sutro takes you deep into the history and soulful sounds of jazz. From Sachmo to Bird, Mingus to Weather Report, you get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the masters and their music, and you: Get the lowdown on jazz, firsthand, from today's greats Get inside the different types of jazz--from big band to bee-bop to funk Get a handle on the concepts, terms, and conventions that distinguish jazz from other forms of music Get a perspective on the history of jazz Put together a fine jazz collection of your own Recognize the key characteristics of particular players' sounds Whether you're getting into jazz for the first time or you're been in the scene for years, Jazz For Dummies is a treasure trove of facts, insights, and guidance on: One hundred years of jazz--from Dixieland to fusion and beyond Great front men and women, on sax, trumpet vocals Keyboard geniuses of jazz from ragtime to the present Percussionists, bassists, and guitarists of note Shopping for jazz recordings and finding live jazz in your area The bonus CD features a sampling of vintage recordings, including cuts by Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Art Tatum, and others. Your swingin' guide to the world of jazz, Jazz For Dummies lets you tune into the different jazz styles and help you become a more savvy listener.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006244137X
• ISBN13: 9780062441379
• Release Date: August 2016
• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Length: 752 Pages
• Weight: 2.17 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 2.1" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Great for neophytes!

I don't intend to become a jazz player, but I am curious about the underlying layers of this fascinating style of music. This book has not only driven me to a deeper understanding of the origins and of technical aspects of the jazz, but has indeed provided me with a better appreciation of it. After reading this book I just want more jazz!

A Good Place to Start

Both the accolades and criticisms of the reviews above are accurate. As someone new to jazz, I wanted to hear some examples of what makes jazz unique - such as syncopation, emphasis on chords, and slurred notes. The CD does not deliver this, but neither does any other introduction to jazz that I could find. The closest thing is the PBS web site for Ken Burns' Jazz, which has a virtual piano that morphs "Mary Had a Little...

Great Book!

This is a wonderful book in finding out who to listen to and a little about them. Just read it and give it a chance! You'll be surprised, it's great!

An approachable introduction to Jazz

This has been a great reference book that I've used extensively while watching the "Jazz" film series by Kenneth Burns on public TV. All the key points and players have been presented in "Jazz for Dummies" and it has helped me identify names, understand musical concepts and follow the chronology of the jazz players, and their influences, as they are introduced on the TV series. Clearly the author has a deep appreciation...

The most complete all-around guide to jazz I've seen.

Jazz for Dummies is essential reading--both for new jazz fans and seasoned jazzophiles. The book is easy to use, loaded with information, and it even includes a CD that lets you sample some of jazz's greatest music--from Louis Armstrong to Miles Davis. I especially enjoyed the sections on "Listening to Jazz" and "Starting a Collection," and I have yet to find a jazz player who is not included among the thousands of musicians...