Without jazz, the world we live in would be unrecognisable, a much duller, more conventional place. But what exactly is jazz?

Richard Cook, the acclaimed author (with Brian Morton) of The Penguin Guide to Jazz On CD, takes the reader on a fascinating tour of the musical terrain, past and present. Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia is at once a rivetingly opinionated A to Z of every major figure from Louis Armstrong to John Zorn; a clear guide to the various techniques and styles, ranging from boogie woogie to scat singing; and a witty dictionary of terms, whether explaining the meaning of ghost bands, harmolodics or vocalese.

"Every look through its seductively erudite pages reveals more that simply has to be heard … Here, anyway, is enough for a lifetime" - The Times

"The entry on each artist reads like an intriguing blend of good liner notes and sharp critical assessment. It's the kind of book that you'll yank off the shelf to look up a quick fact and still be reading two hours later" - Fortune

RICHARD COOK has been writing about music since the 1970s. He is a former editor of The Wire and is currently the editor of the UK jazz magazine, Jazz Review. He is the co-author of the Penguin Guide to Jaz on CD with Brian Morton, which is now in its seventh edition.

back to previous page