Jazz 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Jazz [Paperback]

John Szwed (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 23, 2000

Anyone interested in learning about a distinct musicjazzwill welcome this newest addition to the popular 101 reference series. Noted anthropologist, critic, and musical scholar John F. Szwed takes readers on a tour of the musics tangled history and explores how it developed from an ethnic music to become North Americas most popular music and then part of the avant garde in less than fifty years. Jazz 101 presents the key figures, history, theory, and controversies that shaped its development, along with a discussion of some of its most important recordings.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John F. Szwed is currently a professor of anthropology, African and African-American studies, music, and American studies at Yale University. He has written eight books on music and African-American culture and numerous articles and reviews on related subjects. His honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Rockefeller Foundation Humanities Fellowship. He lives in Trumbull, Connecticut.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (August 23, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786884967
• ISBN-13: 978-0786884964
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #81 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Reference

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect book for novices and veterans alike, January 22, 2001

By 

C. Williamson (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jazz 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Jazz (Paperback)

Those who really want an excellent book on the history of jazz should eschew Ken Burns' incomplete doorstop of a picture book and turn to John F. Szwed's compact and comprehensive volume. In only a little over 300 pages, Szwed succinctly and skilfully covers the entire spectrum of jazz, offering the reader everything and looking askance at nothing. Though opinionated at times (and who could not be, writing a book of this sort), Szwed is never judgmental, and his knowledge of the field and its many aspects is broad and sweeping without seeming superficial. And please note that this isn't just a book for jazz newbies -- I've been a jazz fan for many years, with a huge collection of records, CDs and books, and I still learned a lot. Szwed's illuminative sidebars on individual songs and albums had me pulling out some old favorites and hearing them with fresh ears. This volume belongs on the shelf of every jazz buff.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best book for the novice, March 16, 2004

By 

J. Janssen (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Jazz 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Jazz (Paperback)

Professor Szwed's book is aptly titled and provides a fairly comprehensive history of jazz from it's beginnings to the present. He clearly states that no book covering such a diverse genre can escape being incomplete when it comes to recognizing individual artists, nor escape the inevitable opinions and prejudices of diverging thought on direction and contribution. To this end he suceeds handily.

The novice who is interested in jazz, and not yet opinionated enough to have adopted one of the contentious theories of "what jazz is", will find much information on the origins and stylistic forms of jazz music, jazz art and ultimately, jazz life. However, the more seasoned jazz fan might just as easily find himself in mental arguement with the author almost from the git go. This is regretable since it leads to rejection of much of the foundation material important in having a true understanding of the music. To those of us who believe jazz is devinely connected to the blues, much of Szwed's commentary could be viewed as heresy. But, to others who feel jazz includes almost all forms of improvisation the author's keen insite on sociological and twentieth century demographics play particularly well. He goes so far as to dip his toe in the muddy waters of Kenny G's authenticity, though slyly demurs from opining on just what this cretin is actually blowing through his horn (there, I told you jazz opinion can be contentious!).

My only criticism of this work is Szwed's listening examples which are carefully detailed and highlighted throughout the book. While they specifically meet the example criteria he is aiming for, many more accessable (read enjoyable) substitutes exist.

All in all, an excellent intro and the best $10 item in the jazz supermarket.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read For Musicians, August 4, 2001

By 

"kadbtl" (Ranshaw, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jazz 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Jazz (Paperback)

As a 17 year old high school student, I knew next to nothing about jazz before reading this book. John Szwed did an amazing job introducing such a vast musical genre in a simplistic and thought provoking manor. The history, key players, and different "types" of jazz are all discussed in this book. I honestly could not put it down. A must read for any musician.