Czech Samizdat (1 results)

First and only editions of both of these short-lived fugitive publications. The complete run of Jazz offers a fascinating view of the times. A well-produced, illustrated magazine that features reviews, pen pictures and features on American and other western jazz performers, the editorial direction changed radically following the coup d'état of 1948. The contrast between the final issue before the February 1948 putsch and the first issue afterwards reveals a complete reinterpretation of jazz, Czech critic Ján Dalecký remarking that "In the introduction alone, which was full of ideological terms, we could see that the magazine had taken a 180 degree turn", reviews of Soviet performers began to proliferate. WorldCat locates a single run at the University of Delaware. It is doubtful that more than a handful of each issue of the 1952 journal would have been produced. Extremely uncommon, no other copies traced, it is impossible to say whether any more was ever produced. Highly risky samizdat published at a time when in Czechoslovakia merely singing jazz lyrics in English was against the law. Both issues heavily promote the AFN (American Forces Network) radio station providing the jazz schedule for upcoming week, including the AFN Hit Parade programme and other western European broadcasts featuring jazz. Also includes a short story about a Czechoslovak family whose lives are utterly transformed by listening to AFN; reviews of current American jazz releases; interviews with Czech jazz musicians, and reviews of local jazz-related concerts. First named 15 issues in 13, c.16 pages per issue, all published, quarto, wire-stitched in the original medium paper pictorial wrappers; the second, 2 issues octavo, ?all published - issue 1, 19 April 1952, 19 pages; issue 2, 3 May 1952, 17 pages - carbon copy typescript, the first issue wire-stitched in glossy paper wrappers with illustration to the front panel, the second wire-stitched, laid loosely into plain blue card wrappers. First named with illustrations to the text. Housed in a plain black cloth solander box. Both with some external wear, the wrappers a little rubbed, first issue of the first with light vertical crease from folding for mailing, "ukazkove cislo" [sample issue] ink stamp to the front panel; both with pale toning to the text, but overall very good.