The History of Jazz
"The best book of its kind."--Gary Giddins, author of Visions of Jazz: The First Century"A remarkable piece of work... encyclopedic, discriminating, provocative, perceptive and eminently readable. ...If you are looking for an introduction to jazz, this is it. If you know and love jazz well, this is yourvade mecum. Me, I expect to be reading around in it for the rest of my life."--Jonathan Yardley,The Washington Post"Ted Gioia's herculeanThe History of Jazz...navigates this wild country with immense sophistication, scholarship, and wit. In fact, Gioia'sHistorystands a good chance of becoming the standard guide for general readers and academics."--Village Voice"An authoritative work of research that doesn't spare the poetic power of words."--James Sullivan,San Francisco Chronicle"Anyone looking for a balanced, well-written popular history of jazz will certainly find [The History of Jazz] both readable and reliable."--The Wall Street Journal"A very detailed telling of the events occurring throughout the 20th century that led to the creation and growth of jazz. It makes for an informative and enjoyable reading experience for all who love the art form."--Horace Alexander Young, Washington State University"An excellent, well-written text that makes the subject understandable and interesting."--Brian Q. Torff, Fairfield University"Very well researched, easy to read but extremely articulate. Mr. Gioia has accomplished a seemingly difficult feat with great ease."--Wendel Werner, Roane State Community College"A miracle of concision, Ted Gioia'sHistory of Jazzfills the most conspicuous gap in the music's literature. Marshall Stearns publishedThe Story of Jazz40 years ago, and the need for a work that would update the story, while incorporating new research and insights, has long been apparent. Gioia does the job with polish, clarity, justice, and surprising completeness--it's the best book of its kind."--Gary Giddins, author ofVisions of Jazz: The First Century(forthcoming from OUP in 1998)"If you wanted to introduce someone to jazz with a single book, this would be a good choice."--Kirkus Reviews"Gioia generously considers the obviously major players yet notes hundreds of other musicians, too, always with a perspicacity born out of his own working knowledge...and the literary fluency of the essayist whoseImperfect Artis one of the best younger critics' books."--Booklist"[The History of Jazz] is a remarkable piece of work, not without its shortcomings or its invitations to argument but, withal, the definitive work: encyclopedic, discriminating, provocative, perceptive and eminently readable. With its publication, it can no longer be said that the literature of jazz falls far short of the music itself.... The sweep of Ted Gioia's narrative is grand, indeed helps us understand just how grand the story of jazz really is.... If you are looking for an introduction to jazz, this is it. If you know and love jazz well, this is yourvade mecum. Me, I expect to be reading around in it for the rest of my life."--Jonathan Yardley,The Washington Post, Chosen as One of the 20 Best Books of the Year"This well-researched, extensively annotated volume covers the major trends and personalities that have shaped jazz. The excellent bibliography and list of recommended listening make this a valuable purchase for libraries building a jazz collection."--Library Journal"Ted Gioia's herculeanThe History of Jazz...navigates this wild country with immense sophistication, scholarship, and wit. In fact, Gioia'sHistorystands a good chance of becoming the standard guide for general readers and academics."--Greg Tate,Village Voice"An authoritative work of research that doesn't spare the poetic power of words."--James Sullivan,San Francisco Chronicle"Anyone looking for a balanced, well-written popular history of jazz will certainly find [The History of Jazz] both readable and reliable."--The Wall Street Journal"An all-encompassing short history of the genre that has dominated 20th-century music."--he New York Times Book Review, A Notable Book of 1998"...a masterful and fair-minded work" -The Misread City"The mass of information is structured by a strong linear narrative and is carried along by Gioia's poetic turn of phrase. One of the best, and most even-handed, surveys of jazz and its literature."Financial Times"For the past 25 years, author and teacher Ted Gioia has provided the most succinct and contemporary histories of America's native musics: blues and jazz. He has done this through his exceptional facility for taking all the previous literature, separating the wheat from the chaff, correcting the errors and myths, and burnishing a brand new shine on the music whole." --AllAboutJazz.com