Bebop : Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion [Paperback]

Scott Yanow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2000 | Series: Third Ear

On the heels of swing, bebop lifted jazz from the dance floor into an art form powered by virtuoso players. This engaging collection of essays, biographies and reviews by veteran jazz journalist Scott Yanow probes the lives and revolutionary works of more than 500 great beboppers, including the giants: Charlie Parker, Dizzie Gillespie, Bud Powell, Max Roach and Thelonious Monk. The guide also explores key artists such as Sarah Vaughan, Charlie Christian and the young Miles Davis, plus such later figures as Joe Pass and Barry Harris.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bebop is a spiritual journey, demanding obstacle course, and a way of life. Yanow leads us eloquently through this journey." -- Karrin Allyson, jazz singer

"I’m always impressed by Scott Yanow’s intelligent thoughts on jazz. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in bebop." -- Bill Watrous, jazz trombonist and bandleader

"Yanow's is a unique approach, making the book the ultimate travel guide for anyone obsessed with the style." -- Phoenix New Times, November 23-29, 2000

About the Author

Scott Yanow has been writing about jazz since 1975. Jazz editor of Record Review during its entire publishing history (1976-84), he has written for Downbeat, JazzTimes, Jazz Forum, Jazz News, and Strictly Jazz magazines. Yanow currently is a regular contributor to Cadence, Jazziz, Coda, L.A. Jazz Scene, Mississippi Rag, Jazz Improv, Jazz Now, Jazz Report, and Planet Jazz. He compiles the jazz listings for the Los Angeles Times, and has written over 200 album liner notes. Editor of the All Music Guide to Jazz and author of Duke Ellington, Yanow also wrote Swing and Afro-Cuban Jazz for the Third Ear--The Essential Listening Companion series.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879306084
• ISBN-13: 978-0879306083
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #325,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bebop? Close Enough for Jazz...., October 8, 2000

By 

Silvio Dee - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bebop : Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion (Paperback)

This is a handy compendium of introductory overviews, musical biographies, and rated record recommendations for all of Bebop's main and minor players, but unfortunately it doesn't stop there. Dozens of entries for musicians whom you'd never think to connect with Bebop (Lew Tabackin? Marian McPartland?) merely serve to unnecessarily complicate the issues and probably confuse newcomers. That said, Scott Yanow is a knowledgeable reviewer and writer, and this guide will be a useful starting point for jazz fans who want to explore more deeply the musical essence of modern jazz.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The evolution of Bebop from 1949 to the present day, February 21, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bebop : Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion (Paperback)

In Bebop, Scott Yanow offers a 391-page compendium of insights, anecdotal biographies, essays, and reviews of jazz music and the musicians that created this authentically American art form. Bebop explores the early roots and influences of jazz (1937-44); the pioneers and key players, singers, and band leaders of the classic Bebop era (1945-49); and the evolution of Bebop from 1949 to the present day. Also features is a unique survey of LPs an CDs released through 1999 by both vintage Bebop performers and contemporary Bebop-based musicians. From Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk to Sarah Vaughen, Miles Davis, and Sonny Rollins, Bebop offers fresh perspective, new discovers, and insightful commentary. This is a "must" for all personal, professional, and academic popular music history and reference collections.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars At Times, Yanow is Way Off Base, May 21, 2006

By 

John Chapin (Jackson Heights, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bebop : Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion (Paperback)

This might be an overview of some of the better-known boppers, but it doesn't go beyond the most well-known, and there are many opinions that are simply unsupportable.

My biggest complaints with this book can best be seen by pointing out two entries: Oscar Peterson and Sonny Stitt. (Whether you should even -include- Oscar Peterson in a book supposedly dedicated to Bebop is a valid question.)

Yanow gives abolutely glowing words for Oscar Peterson, describing him as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. Ok, Yanow happens to really dig O.P. I would be able to agree to disagree about that.

But I was very disappointed to read his negative remarks about Sonny Stitt. He places a metaphorical asterisk by Stitt's name because Yanow can't hear the originality in Stitt's playing. That's way off base. Granted, Stitt was very much a musical descendant of Bird, as so many are, but Stitt played tenor and alto (even bari), and lived a lot longer, and recorded so much more. If you can't hear the genius of Stitt, that's your loss. Learn a Stitt solo and you'll hear it.

And just to confuse the reader more, BOTH of the sections on Peterson and Stitt start out with describing them as one of the best jazz musicians all time.