The introduction to the first edition of this collection of Philip Larkin's jazz criticism has become one of the most celebrated prose pieces of the twentieth century. It naturally reappears in this new edition, together with other pieces which did not appear, so the book now contains the whole of Larkin's output published in the Daily Telegraph from 1961 to 1971. There is acute and lively comment on a multitude of artists from every period of jazz history. Mr Larkin says of his articles: "I tried in writing them to be fair and conscientious, and there were many times when I substituted "challenging" for "insolent," "adventurous" for "excrutiating," and "colourful" for "viciously absurd" in athoroughly professional manner. Although my critical principle has been Eddie Condon's 'As it enters the ear, does it come in like broken glass or does it come in like honey?,' I've generally remembered that mine was not the only ear in the world. Above all, I hope they suggest I love jazz".

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