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Verve: The Sound of America
The entire story of jazz―from its earliest days in New Orleans to the 1970s and beyond―told through archival material from Verve, the genre’s most important label Verve signed practically every major jazz artist of the 1950s and 1960s and is home to some of the greatest music ever recorded. Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, and Ella Fitzgerald all released records through Verve.
This superb new volume presents some of the rarest records and unseen ephemera from the label that helped define the world of jazz. Hundreds of the best examples of iconic seven-inch, ten-inch, and twelve-inch records appear, along with publicity reports, news clippings, ledger books, telegrams, and contracts.
The ultimate music guide, the book includes features on key artists as well as infographics and timelines that reveal the connections between leading artists and Verve. Looking beyond the music scene, the book discusses segregation in America, the missions to take jazz to Europe and the world, the clubs, the places, and the people who made jazz vital. Commentary from the biggest names in jazz today, including some of Verve’s own artists, complements the text. 1,200 illustrations in color and black and white
This superb new volume presents some of the rarest records and unseen ephemera from the label that helped define the world of jazz. Hundreds of the best examples of iconic seven-inch, ten-inch, and twelve-inch records appear, along with publicity reports, news clippings, ledger books, telegrams, and contracts.
The ultimate music guide, the book includes features on key artists as well as infographics and timelines that reveal the connections between leading artists and Verve. Looking beyond the music scene, the book discusses segregation in America, the missions to take jazz to Europe and the world, the clubs, the places, and the people who made jazz vital. Commentary from the biggest names in jazz today, including some of Verve’s own artists, complements the text. 1,200 illustrations in color and black and white
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 21, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 5, 2015
This is a lovely book, recounting the rise of Verve Records, the label who can boast a roster of musicians including Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.
It charts the rise of Jazz (including a debate on where the name comes from - no-one basically knows; one theory is that it stems from a musician known as Jazbo Brown who crowds would shout, "More Jazbo, more Jaz!"). It is a story which is intrinsically linked with black Americans' experience in their country; you could say that the 'sound of America' is the sound of the fight against racism. As Paul Whiteman says, "Jazz came to America 300 years ago - in chains".
From that, came the stunning music which Verve released. Although still releasing music from the likes of Diana Krall and the marvellous Verve Remixed albums, arguably the time when the label was at the cutting edge was up and till the late fifties when the twin assault of rock 'n' roll and free jazz rather caused it to lose its way.
It is all captured here, with fantastic photos of the jazz greats in concert and masses of the stunning art-work which graced the album sleeves (and hence the Thames and Hudson's interest, I guess). This is a book which makes for a great present, either to someone else or yourself.
(The box CD set of Verve singles which you can also purchase makes for a nice accompaniment to it. As does the sister book of the history of Blue Note Records.)
FYI. My blog on 1940s jazz album cover art
https://philbrett.me/2015/05/05/jazz-...
It charts the rise of Jazz (including a debate on where the name comes from - no-one basically knows; one theory is that it stems from a musician known as Jazbo Brown who crowds would shout, "More Jazbo, more Jaz!"). It is a story which is intrinsically linked with black Americans' experience in their country; you could say that the 'sound of America' is the sound of the fight against racism. As Paul Whiteman says, "Jazz came to America 300 years ago - in chains".
From that, came the stunning music which Verve released. Although still releasing music from the likes of Diana Krall and the marvellous Verve Remixed albums, arguably the time when the label was at the cutting edge was up and till the late fifties when the twin assault of rock 'n' roll and free jazz rather caused it to lose its way.
It is all captured here, with fantastic photos of the jazz greats in concert and masses of the stunning art-work which graced the album sleeves (and hence the Thames and Hudson's interest, I guess). This is a book which makes for a great present, either to someone else or yourself.
(The box CD set of Verve singles which you can also purchase makes for a nice accompaniment to it. As does the sister book of the history of Blue Note Records.)
FYI. My blog on 1940s jazz album cover art
https://philbrett.me/2015/05/05/jazz-...
February 6, 2014
As a fervent jazz fan Verve: the sound of America is heaven sent. Alongside Columbia and Blue Note the Verve label is responsible for bringing the jazz idiom to the forefront of not just America's music enthusiasts but the world's. While the Verve label wasn't officially launched by Norman Granz until 1956, he had already amassed a significant lode of recorded material from his Jazz at the Philharmonic Series which he started in 1944. As he was also Ella Fitzgerald's manager it was an obvious step towards bringing her talents to the fore. Almost single-handedly Granz moved jazz from the clubs to the concert halls. His roster at Verve included all the names, revolutionary and otherwise, who would be remembered as the torch carriers. Charlie Parker, Billy Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Stan Getz, and, of course, Ella.
Riohard Havis has created a masterpiece which is essential reading for anyone with an interest in jazz. It's packed with essays, numerous photos from the early days of Verve on through. Of special note is a heartfelt and interesting foreword by Herbie Hancock. The breadth of the artist roster is breath-taking, from Ella in the 40's to recent times with today's first lady of jazz Diana Krall.
This is a weighty book in every which way. Enjoy.
Riohard Havis has created a masterpiece which is essential reading for anyone with an interest in jazz. It's packed with essays, numerous photos from the early days of Verve on through. Of special note is a heartfelt and interesting foreword by Herbie Hancock. The breadth of the artist roster is breath-taking, from Ella in the 40's to recent times with today's first lady of jazz Diana Krall.
This is a weighty book in every which way. Enjoy.
May 7, 2025
Best source of information on Verve Records. Great presentation and has every album cover from the Clef originals to the Verve reissues. Also features spotlights on a few of the most popular artists that were recorded on Verve.
December 31, 2014
I really enjoyed it
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews