The Penguin Jazz Guide

The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings is firmly established as the world's leading guide to recorded jazz, a mine of fascinating information and a source of insightful - often wittily trenchant - criticism. This is something rather different: Brian Morton (who taught American history at UEA) has picked out the 1000 best recordings that all jazz fans should have and shows how they tell the history of the music and with it the history of the twentieth century. He has completely revised his and Richard Cook's entries and reassessed each artist's entry for this book. The result is an endlessly browsable companion that will prove required reading for aficionados and jazz novices alike. 'It's the kind of book that you'll yank off the shelf to look up a quick fact and still be reading two hours later' Fortune 'Part jazz history, part jazz Karma Sutra with Cook and Morton as the knowledgeable, urbane, wise and witty guides ... This is one of the great books of recorded jazz; the other guides don't come close' Irish Times

14,000 CDs reviewed 2,000 New discs in this edition More than 500 new artist listings The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordingsis now firmly established as the world's leading guide to recorded jazz. For this eighth edition Richard Cook and Brian Morton have once again reassessed and updated each entry. Whether you're looking for the best new CDs or finding out which are the essential jazz albums for downloading, this book is the perfect companion. It is a mine of information and a source of insightful, witty, trenchant criticism that is required reading for jazz aficionados and novices alike.

Now fully updated--the critically acclaimed guide to the world of jazz on CDWhere can you find a complete set of Ella Fitzgerald's many songbook recordings? Who are the influences of Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick, Jr., and Joshua Redman? What are the earliest available recordings of trumpeter Chet Baker? Leading critics Richard Cook and Brian Morton answer these and myriad other questions in The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD--the most comprehensive critical guide to jazz recordings available.

Covers more than eighteen thousand recordings and more than 1,700 musicians from across the jazz spectrum and includes a history of the different types of jazz, the evolution of jazz instruments, and essays on styles.

A concise history of jazz The noteworthy composers and musicians, from Jelly Roll Morton and Thelonious Monk to Miles Davis and Charles Mingus Major performers from Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald to Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington Classic songs and compositions The most influential recordings of all time A complete guide to jazz terminology and lingo Valuable resources for the Curious Listener

Here are sixty-odd years of recorded jazz brillaintly reviewed in one essential source. Covering more than 4,000 currently available jazz albums, this long-needed work will remain the standard reference in the field for years to come.

One of the Best Books of the Year: NPR, GQ, Billboard, JazzTimes In jazz parlance, “playing changes” refers to an improviser’s resourceful path through a chord progression. In this definitive guide to the jazz of our time, leading critic Nate Chinen boldly expands on that idea, taking us through the key changes, concepts, events, and people that have shaped jazz since the turn of the century—from Wayne Shorter and Henry Threadgill to Kamasi Washington and Esperanza Spalding; from the phrase “America’s classical music” to an explosion of new ideas and approaches; from claims of jazz’s demise to the living, breathing scene that exerts influence on mass culture, hip-hop, and R&B. Grounded in authority and brimming with style, packed with essential album lists and listening recommendations, Playing Changes takes the measure of this exhilarating moment—and the shimmering possibilities to come.