Jazz Books

Showing 1-50 of 3,888
The History of Jazz The History of Jazz (Paperback)
by (shelved 124 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.07 — 5,729 ratings — published 1997
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Miles: The Autobiography Miles: The Autobiography (Paperback)
by (shelved 120 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.20 — 16,854 ratings — published 1989
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But Beautiful: A Book About Jazz But Beautiful: A Book About Jazz (Paperback)
by (shelved 83 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.23 — 3,324 ratings — published 1992
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How to Listen to Jazz How to Listen to Jazz (Hardcover)
by (shelved 78 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.07 — 2,515 ratings — published 2016
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Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original (Hardcover)
by (shelved 76 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.31 — 2,580 ratings — published 2009
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Beneath the Underdog Beneath the Underdog (Paperback)
by (shelved 55 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.83 — 3,906 ratings — published 1971
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3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool 3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool (Hardcover)
by (shelved 51 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.35 — 2,202 ratings — published 2024
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Lady Sings the Blues Lady Sings the Blues (Paperback)
by (shelved 44 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.05 — 7,771 ratings — published 1956
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John Coltrane: His Life and Music (The Michigan American Music Series) John Coltrane: His Life and Music (The Michigan American Music Series)
by (shelved 42 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.15 — 622 ratings — published 1998
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A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album (Paperback)
by (shelved 39 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.27 — 1,399 ratings — published 2002
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The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby (Paperback)
by (shelved 39 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.93 — 5,988,965 ratings — published 1925
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VISIONS OF JAZZ: THE FIRST CENTURY: The First Century VISIONS OF JAZZ: THE FIRST CENTURY: The First Century (Paperback)
by (shelved 38 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.18 — 398 ratings — published 1998
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Kind Of Blue: The Making Of The Miles Davis Masterpiece Kind Of Blue: The Making Of The Miles Davis Masterpiece (Paperback)
by (shelved 37 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.27 — 1,377 ratings — published 2000
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The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire (Hardcover)
by (shelved 36 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.45 — 482 ratings — published 2012
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Bird Lives!: The High Life & Hard Times of Charlie (Yardbird) Parker Bird Lives!: The High Life & Hard Times of Charlie (Yardbird) Parker
by (shelved 35 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.18 — 796 ratings — published 1973
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Playing Changes: Jazz for the New Century Playing Changes: Jazz for the New Century (Hardcover)
by (shelved 34 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.13 — 678 ratings — published 2018
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Coltrane: The Story of a Sound Coltrane: The Story of a Sound (Hardcover)
by (shelved 34 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.95 — 962 ratings — published 2007
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As Serious As Your Life: John Coltrane and Beyond As Serious As Your Life: John Coltrane and Beyond (Paperback)
by (shelved 33 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.31 — 662 ratings — published 1977
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The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (Paperback)
by (shelved 33 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.45 — 501 ratings — published 1992
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Space is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra Space is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra (Paperback)
by (shelved 32 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.20 — 1,342 ratings — published
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Kansas City Lightning: The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker Kansas City Lightning: The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker (Hardcover)
by (shelved 30 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.88 — 984 ratings — published 2013
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Jazz Jazz (Hardcover)
by (shelved 29 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.19 — 296 ratings — published 2009
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Straight Life: The Story Of Art Pepper Straight Life: The Story Of Art Pepper (Paperback)
by (shelved 29 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.34 — 1,051 ratings — published 1980
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Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings (Paperback)
by (shelved 29 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.05 — 610 ratings — published 1998
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The Jazz Theory Book The Jazz Theory Book (Spiral-bound)
by (shelved 28 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.45 — 1,066 ratings — published 1995
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Jazz: A History of America's Music Jazz: A History of America's Music (Paperback)
by (shelved 28 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.16 — 588 ratings — published
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Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn (Paperback)
by (shelved 28 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.31 — 753 ratings — published 1996
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Herbie Hancock: Possibilities Herbie Hancock: Possibilities (Hardcover)
by (shelved 27 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.23 — 1,597 ratings — published 2014
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Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (Hardcover)
by (shelved 27 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.05 — 316,930 ratings — published 2009
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Thinking in Jazz : The Infinite Art of Improvisation (Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology Series) Thinking in Jazz : The Infinite Art of Improvisation (Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology Series)
by (shelved 24 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.26 — 244 ratings — published 1994
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Black Music Black Music (Paperback)
by (shelved 24 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.10 — 568 ratings — published 1966
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The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records (Hardcover)
by (shelved 24 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.03 — 428 ratings — published 2006
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Coming Through Slaughter Coming Through Slaughter (Paperback)
by (shelved 24 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.86 — 7,052 ratings — published 1976
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Blues People: Negro Music in White America Blues People: Negro Music in White America (Paperback)
by (shelved 24 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.15 — 2,444 ratings — published 1963
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Ascension: John Coltrane And His Quest Ascension: John Coltrane And His Quest (Paperback)
by (shelved 24 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.01 — 433 ratings — published 1993
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Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life (Hardcover)
by (shelved 23 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.95 — 643 ratings — published 2008
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Hear Me Talkin' To Ya Hear Me Talkin' To Ya (Paperback)
by (shelved 23 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.27 — 187 ratings — published 1955
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Early Jazz: Its Roots and Musical Development (The ^AHistory of Jazz) Early Jazz: Its Roots and Musical Development (The ^AHistory of Jazz)
by (shelved 23 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.09 — 106 ratings — published 1968
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Music is My Mistress Music is My Mistress (Paperback)
by (shelved 23 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.98 — 451 ratings — published 1973
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Half Blood Blues Half Blood Blues (Paperback)
by (shelved 22 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.70 — 17,804 ratings — published 2011
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Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington (Hardcover)
by (shelved 22 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.89 — 670 ratings — published 2013
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Miles Davis: The Definitive Biography Miles Davis: The Definitive Biography (Paperback)
by (shelved 22 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.15 — 889 ratings — published 1998
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Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong (Hardcover)
by (shelved 22 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.15 — 975 ratings — published 2009
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On the Road On the Road (Paperback)
by (shelved 21 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.61 — 452,071 ratings — published 1957
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Charlie Parker Played Be Bop Charlie Parker Played Be Bop (Board Book)
by (shelved 21 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.03 — 804 ratings — published 1992
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to Be or not to Bop: Memoirs- Dizzy Gillespie to Be or not to Bop: Memoirs- Dizzy Gillespie (Hardcover)
by (shelved 21 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.25 — 196 ratings — published 1979
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Notes and Tones: Musician-to-Musician Interviews (Expanded Edition) Notes and Tones: Musician-to-Musician Interviews (Expanded Edition)
by (shelved 20 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.45 — 278 ratings — published 1977
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The Jazz Book: From Ragtime to Fusion and Beyond The Jazz Book: From Ragtime to Fusion and Beyond (Paperback)
by (shelved 19 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.17 — 249 ratings — published 1953
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The Birth Of Bebop: A Social And Musical History The Birth Of Bebop: A Social And Musical History (Paperback)
by (shelved 19 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.29 — 109 ratings — published 1997
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Myself When I am Real: The Life and Music of Charles Mingus Myself When I am Real: The Life and Music of Charles Mingus (Hardcover)
by (shelved 19 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.74 — 202 ratings — published 2000
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Dance Demons by Juliet M. SampsonA Tempest Soul by Oliver PhippsTaking Flight by Michaela DePrince84 Ribbons by Paddy EgerAstonish Me by Maggie Shipstead
Into the World of Dance
104 books — 27 voters
Young Man with a Horn by Dorothy BakerThe Bass Saxophone by Josef ŠkvoreckýHalf Blood Blues by Esi EdugyanEl perseguidor by Julio CortázarHopscotch by Julio Cortázar
Jazz fiction
59 books — 12 voters

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Boris Vian
“There are only two things: love, all sorts of love, with pretty girls, and the music of New Orleans or Duke Ellington. Everything else ought to go, because everything else is ugly. ”
Boris Vian

Thelonious Monk
“The piano ain't got no wrong notes.”
Thelonious Monk

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