Jazz

The story of the development of jazz and the extraordinary jazz legends who changed the face of music.

Do you have a hard time differentiating between hard bop, bebop, and the blues? Need to Know?Jazz puts jazz in its musical and historical context, and gets you started with stories of famous artists and the best recordings to listen to.

From the beginnings of jazz to the years of swing and satchmo, Bob Blumenthal introduces jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, and looks at how they transformed the art form into the era of bebop, with new names such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk.

The broad variety of styles within jazz, from swing and ragtime to big bands and blues is complemented with listening suggestions, making this the ideal introductory guide for anyone eager to learn more about this unique art form.

About the author

Bob Blumenthal is creative consultant for Marsalis Music, the record label founded by Branford Marsalis. He began writing jazz criticism in 1969 and was a critic for The Boston Globe during its jazz festival for a decade. He has provided radio and television commentary and has served as the panelist for the National Jazz Service Association, the New England Foundation for the Arts, the Jazz Composers Alliance International and the All Newton Music School, as well as the Visiting Committee of the New England Conservatory of Music.