Jazz: the Basics

The Basics

by Christopher Meeder

The Basics gives a brief introduction to a century of jazz, ideal for students and interested listeners who want to learn more about this important musical style. The heart of the book traces jazz's growth from its folk origins through early recordings and New Orleans stars; the big-band and swing era; bebop; cool jazz and third stream; avant-garde; jazz-rock; and the neo-conservative movement of the 1980s and 1990s. Key figures from each era Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Wynton Marsalis are highlighted along with classic works. The book concludes with a list of the 100 essential recordings to own, along with a timeline and glossary. The Basics serves as an excellent introduction to the players, the music, and the styles that make jazz 'America's classical music.'

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History

278 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Cain S.]

Brisk but wide history of the genre and its exponents, includes both juicy anecdotes about the musicians and sound analytical discussion of the music.

[Daniel]

Very basic introduction.