Jazz encompasses a bewildering range of musical styles and an equally bewildering array of players. Some players, however, have become legendary: not only did their work shape the course of modern jazz, but their influence on contemporary jazz musicians is as strong as ever.

In Jazz Heroes leading jazz critic John Fordham examines the lives and work of six such artists. Their legacy embraces the flinty, dissonant elegance of pianist Thelonious Monk; the breezy lyricism and dazzling technique of guitarist Wes Montgomery, a style that inspired jazz and pop guitarists alike; and the warmth, vocal dexterity and captivating optimism of singer Ella Fitzgerald. Saxophonist John Coltrane's restless quest for an all-but-unplayable dream is documented here, as is trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie's deft combination of showbiz and radical musicianship, and the story of how baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan made Cool Jazz a hot ticket in the pop charts of the early 1950s.

Interspersed throughout are interviews with other jazz musicians and critics who knew them personally - a lasting and, at times, poignant testimony to both the individuals and their musical achievements.

Special features on contemporary culture and musical trends, as well as on other famous jazz musicians who worked closely with the six 'heroes' of this book, are also included throughout. Evocative archive photographs capture both the mood of the time and the exuberant, larger-than-life personalities.

For readers who want to discover more of the music for themselves, Jazz Heroes ends with a discography of these musicians' most important recordings - works that sound as fresh and vibrant now as the day they were first made. The result is a celebration of six outstanding and influential musicians and a fascinating introduction to jazz in the post-war world.

CONTENTS:
The Story of Jazz; Dizzy Gillespie; Thelonious Monk; Gerry Mulligan; Ella Fitzgerald; Wes Montgomery; John Coltrane; discography.

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