Jazz: The First Century
When Hasse, curator of American music at the Smithsonian Institution, published Beyond Category, a well-received work on Duke Ellington, it established him as a major author. David P. Szatmary's assessment of Beyond Category--"Hasse provides a well-researched synthesis"(LJ 9/15/93)--can easily be applied to this new work, with the difference that Hasse serves as both editor and author (as with his previous Ragtime). Comprising eight chapters (two authored by Hasse, the others by prominent scholars like Bob Blumenthal) that follow a chronological progression from jazz's earliest inclinations through its more recent developments, this also features numerous sidebars. Unlike most sidebars, these prove to be vital and help the narrative flow, e.g., Hasse's "What Does an Arranger Do?" is particularly clear and succinct. Others, such as profiles of cities and recording labels, are also useful. Key recordings are listed with each chapter. The inclusion of information on non-U.S. musicians solidifies this as a major contribution to understanding jazz. With excellent photos; recommended for academic, public, and music libraries.-William Kenz, Moorhead State Univ. Lib., MNCopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.