Jazz For Dummies

Front Cover
John Wiley & Sons, Jul 5, 2006 - Music - 366 pages
Includes a list of more than 100 recordings for your jazz collection

The fun and easy way to explore the world of jazz

Jazz is America's greatest music, but with over a century's worth of styles and artists, where do you begin? Relax! This hep cat's guide delivers the scoop on the masters and their music — from Duke Ellington to Charlie Parker to Wynton Marsalis. It's just what you need to tune in to the history and musical structure of jazz and become a more savvy listener.

Discover how to

  • Understand the traits and roots of jazz
  • Tune in to jazz styles, from big band to bebop
  • Listen to great jazz artists
  • Catch a live jazz performance
  • Succeed in a jazz ensemble

Praise for Jazz For Dummies

"Now you can finally know about one of . . . America's greatest contributions to world culture."
—Jon Faddis, jazz trumpeter

"Fun to read. . . . An important stepping stone to understanding this complex and profound music."
—James Moody, jazz saxophonist

"Dirk Sutro is madly in love with jazz and . . . he knows what he's talking about."
—"Chubby" Jackson, jazz bassist

 

Contents

Introduction
1
All That Jazz A Tour of the Basics
7
Altered Ears Understanding the Traits and Roots of Jazz
15
The Scheme of Things Elements of Jazz Theory
31
Tools of the Trade The Instruments of Jazz
47
Jazz Greats and Great Jazz An Evolutionary Riff
69
The Golden Era of Big Band Swing The 1930s and Beyond
93
Bebop to Cool The 1940s and 1950s
115
Lovin It Live A Jazz Concert Survival Guide
227
Traveling Jazz Your Ticket to the Best Festivals
241
I Like the Way You Play The Jazz Musician
253
Feeding the Jazz Jones Advice for Aspiring Players
255
So You Wanna Be in a Band Fitting into a Jazz Ensemble
269
Digital Jazz Making Music in HighTech Times
291
Ten Great Cities for Jazz
303
Ten Tips for Building and Enjoying a Jazz Collection
317

A Radical Departure The 1960s and 1970s
143
The Perfect Hybrid Latin Jazz
165
Looking Ahead The Present and Future of Jazz
183
The Beat Goes On Jazz Appreciation 101
197
Good Times Jazzing Up Any Dinner Party
213
More Than 100 Recommended Jazz Titles
329
Trustworthy Jazz Labels
335
Resources for Further Jazz Enlightenment
341
Index
351
Copyright

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About the author (2006)

Dirk Sutro is a writer and jazz lover based in Encinitas, California. He’s covered jazz for more than 20 years. As host of The Lounge on KPBS-FM public radio in San Diego from 1999 to 2004, Dirk interviewed jazz musicians including Arthur Blythe, Don Byron, Holly Hofmann, Lee Konitz, Mundell Lowe, Bennie Maupin, Steve Lacy, Joe Lovano, Charles McPherson, Sam Rivers, and Mike Wofford. He was the jazz critic for the San Diego edition of the Los Angeles Times from 1988 to 1992 and is the author of two books about architecture: West Coast Wave: New California Houses and San Diego Architecture from Missions to Modern. He currently serves as program promotion manager for the Department of Music at the University of California, San Diego. He’s a graduate of U.C. Berkeley (BA in English) and San Diego State University (MS in Mass Communications).

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