Publisher's Synopsis
This invaluable collection of jazz artist profiles showcases 197 little-recognized, forgotten or underappreciated jazz recordings that, for one reason or another, have gotten buried in the deluge of releases by the record labels over the years. Spotlighting saxists Stan Getz, Benny Carter, Joe Farrell, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman and Archie Shepp, trumpeters Kenny Dorham, Booker Little and Thad Jones, and drummers Elvin Jones and Philly Joe Jones, a chapter on each describes his stylistic development and career as well as the various circumstances that combined to keep his most appealing work from getting the recognition it merits. Reviews of each artist's most musically rewarding performances - period by period and CD by CD - focus on the essence of the music from a musician's perspective rather than merely repeating readily available biographical detail. A chronological listing of treasures by the book's profiled artists represents the most listener-friendly recordings of several stylistic eras - from mainstream and bop to 1950s-60s straight-ahead and accessible avant-garde. Other special features describe how to get more value out of jazz listening; speech-inflected vs. rhythm-dominated jazz; an exhaustive guide to jazz styles and artists, and a checklist of online jazz resources. Chuck Stewart shot the full-page portraits of the jazz masters. Casual and committed jazz fans alike can upgrade their knowledge about jazz history and expand their listening horizons; seasoned collectors will be reminded of - or maybe even discover for the first time - some superb but forgotten tracks of the past to enhance and enrich their present-day listening experiences. With its comprehensive background information, this jazz guide is a key resource to getting the most from some of the best jazz ever recorded.
