Jazz: An Introduction to the History and Legends Behind America's Music

“Bob Blumenthal has been an excellent and principled jazz writer for many years. I respect his views and I recommend his new book.” -- Sonny Rollins

The supreme illustrated guide to every aspect of jazz and jazz culture

If you’ve heard of the Cotton Club, but you’re not quite a “hep cat” yet, this is the perfect introduction to jazz, complete with a detailed history of the genre, features on the legendary artists, and everything else one needs to become a jazz connoisseur. From the music’s beginnings and the cities where it all started to the artists and independent record labels that spread it around the world, Jazz shows how the musical style evolved into a major contribution to the cultural world, and includes:

• Breakdowns of key elements—improvisation, blues, swing, solos, and interplay

• In-depth accounts of musicians from Duke Ellington to Dizzy Gillespie

• History of the various eras and their development

• Jazz dictionary and slang usages

Former Boston Globe columnist Bob Blumenthal has been writing jazz criticism since 1969 and has contributed to numerous publications. He has received Grammy Awards for Best Album Notes and the Jazz Journalists Association's Excellence in Newspaper, Magazine, or Online Feature or Review Writing Award and Jazz Journalism Lifetime Achievement Award.