Looks at the history of jazz, discussing its roots and influences, distinct styles such as ragtime, swing, Latin jazz, bebop, and fusion and offering biographies of important jazz musicians.

Product Description: Classic Jazz explores the birth and early development of a truly American art form. Scott Yanow's insightful essays describe the very beginnings of jazz, as well as ragtime, early blues, and New Orleans jazz from 1895-1916. Jazz in the years 1917-1933 is examined in greatest detail, highlighting the careers and rating the recordings of the top performers of the day...read more

A listener's guide to jazz retraces the history of the music, from earliest recordings to the Depression, profiling the people and events behind this truly American art form in a collection of essays, reviews, profiles, and more. Original. (view table of contents)

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(Book). Through anecdotal biographies and evocative photos, this book by jazz author extraordinaire Scott Yanow portrays every key Afro-Cuban Jazz innovator past and present, plus other jazz artists influenced by this infectious music. Also includes reviews and ratings of recordings that make (or don't make) the cut, and essays packed with historical insight not found in other guides. Musicians covered include: Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Willie Bobo, Machito, Poncho Sanchez, Chucho Valdes, Arturo Sandoval, Mongo Santamaria, Gato Barbieri, Eddie Palmieri, and many more. (view table of contents)

Presents a history of bebop from its roots in the late 1930s; describes the musicians, bands, and composers who contributed to this style of jazz; and evaluates key bebop recordings. (view table of contents)

Lists, rates, and reviews more than 18,000 recordings by 1,740 jazz artists; provides biographies of the artists; and charts the evolution of jazz (view table of contents)