Scott Yanow
Miller Freeman, 2001
Paperback. 304pp. b&w illustrations
£15.95

The classic jazz era was one of dizzying innovation and breakthrough. Today, it is recognized as "the soundtrack of the 1920s" and one of the most exciting periods in music history.

This guide opens with the very beginnings of jazz, exploring its seeds in ragtime, early blues, and blues-infused New Orleans jazz from 1895-1916. But the heart of the classic jazz era - and this book - belongs to 1917-1933. Through anecdotal biographies and evocative photos, you'll meet the musicians who defined the Jazz Age, from the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, the first jazz group to record, to the artists poised to usher in swing, such as Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman, Classic Jazz gives you incisive reviews and ratings of recordings that make (or don't make) the cut, and essays brimming with historical insight not found in other guides.

SCOTT YANOW has written for virtually every leading jazz publication since 1975. Editor of the All Music Guide to Jazz, his books include Duke Ellington, Trumpet Kings, Swing, Bebop, and Afro-Cuban Jazz.

"…Whether you're a novice or a serious jazz devotee, you'll learn from this zestful book - and be inspired to add to your CD collection!" - CHIP DEFFAA, Jazz Critic, New York Post

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FURTHER READING

Jazz Masters of the 20s by Richard Hadlock Classic Jazz by Floyd Levin Black Beauty, White Heat a pictorial history other books in the same series by Scott Yanow: Swing Afro-Cuban Jazz Bebop

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