THINQon : Jazz introduction book

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Ram Sofer

Jazz introduction book

Latest Post: August 21, 2009 at 6:01 PM

5 followers

Can anyone recommend an introduction book for Jazz? At this stage, I’m less interested in the theory/playing side and more in the story. And more specific - how did Jazz emerge? What kind of music is it? Who are the great Jazz players and what kind of musicians/people are they?, etc. I tried looking in Amazon for a book, but couldn’t lock down on one (used the Amazon grading system…).

This post is referenced by the following other contributors:

Mia Vialti

in "The Impossibility of Understanding Hipsterdom / The Impossibility of Understanding Hipsterdom"

(The Living Room)

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Mia Vialti

February 2009

67 followers

well, you would think I'd have a good personal answer as I took a course on jazz, but there were various traumas involved: mainly what I remember is a host of useless details.

Still, here's a pointer -- I haven't read this book myself but the Post is pretty enthusiastic:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/reviews/historyofjazz.htm

and here's the first chapter online:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/historyofjazz.htm