This monumental oral history documents big band jazz as it evolved in the 1920s and 1930s in the words of some of the greatest musicians of the time. In the grand tradition of oral history, Coleman Hawkins and Roy Eldridge recount the seminal impact of Fletcher Henderson's band on Benny Goodman; Cozy Cole and Jonah Jones discuss the Cab Calloway band and their days working with Dizzy Gillespie, Vic Dickenson and Freddie Green recall Count Basie; and Quentin Jackson talks about Duke Ellington. And there's more: while Lionel Hampton speaks about his own career, distinguished musicians such as guitarist Tiny grimes and violinist Stuff Smith share insights about other soloists and sidemen.

Featuring a new introduction by Dan Morgenstern, head of the Institute for Jazz Studies at Rutgers University.

STANLEY DANCE (1910-1999) served as book editor of JazzTimes and was a confidante of Duke Ellington, compiling his autobiography, Music Is My Mistress. Dance's other books include The World of Duke Ellington and The World of Count Basie.

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