This book celebrates the work of a group of self-effacing, outwardly unflambouyant people. Musicians who have made a life for themselves playing modern jazz in Britain. Is there another cultural pursuit less promising in terms of job security or financial reward? Even poets today can take a day job and while some of the players featured here support themselves by playing other kinds of music or outside the scene altogether, their existence and survival adds up to a small miracle.

None of them would expect any medals for this. The kind of clear eyed pragmatism even the younger players seem steeped in avoids much reflection around self sacrifice or opportunity cost, and ideas about art tend to be located within notions of craft, perseverance and respect for where the music came from. All very modest, all very British and yet these musicians produce wonderful sounds; expressive, passionate, music as good as you will hear anywhere.

Featuring a collection of the most insightful and entertaining interviews with some of the UK's most charismatic performers, including over fifty photographs by writer, photographer and jazz enthusiast Mike Pearson.

CONTENTS:
Introduction
Peter King
Ronnie Scott
Peter Ind
Gary Crosby & Julian Joseph
Kenny Wheeler & Harry Beckett
Evan Parker
Bryan Spring & Art Themen
Gordon Beck
Trevor Watts
John Etheridge & John Marshall
Jon Hiseman & Barbara Thompson
Don Weller
Clark Tracey
Michael Garrick & Don Rendell
Louis Moholo & Chris McGregor
Stan Tracey
Bobby Wellins
John Surman
Ian Carr
Gallery of Photographs

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