Customer Reviews

Swing : Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion

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This is a truly valuable book. Far, Far better than the Musichound Swing book. Unlike that book, which had several different reviewers, Scott Yanow is the only reviewer of selections in this book which makes for a much more even assessment of Swing Recordings. Yanow gives a brief history of Swing and gives the reader excellent bios of the musicians. Yanow also gives very good coverage to today's retro swing music, which, as Yanow points out, is often dismissed as fad by the mass media, many Jazz fans and Jazz magazines. His reviews of the new bands are honest and fair, unlike the Musichound book which, for the most part, seemed so have the view that Old=Good and New=Bad. His recomendations for each artist are perfect in almost all cases. I disagreed with only a few of his selections and reviews. The only complaint I have is a relatively minor one. He virtually ignores one of the greatest Swing acts, The Andrews Sisters. He includea a short bio and acknowledges their popularity, but he doesn't even recommend one CD for the trio. Surely, Mr. Yanow doesn't think the sisters are that terrible! This is really the only omission that I objected to. With the overwhelming selection of CDs to choose from, Scott Yanow's 'Swing' points out the very best selections and will help you to separate the good collections from the not-so-good collections.

Scott Yanow, the editor of the "All Music Guide To Jazz," is probably one of the most readable jazz critics around. Here he concentrates on the music all the kids were talking about, that crazy little thing called swing. As ever, his style is clear and compact, and the breadth of his knowledge impressive. Yanow covers all the bases: the big bandleaders, the important musicians (broken down by type of instrument) and even a section on composers and arrangers. Even when he's talking about unfamiliar artists, he knows how to stir your curiousity (Cab Calloway had a famous older sister...!?), and the book has a lot to offer to a wide variety of readers. Hundreds of albums are rated on a 1 to 10 scale, and if anything Yanow is a little more charitable here than in his "AMG Jazz" reviews... He's particularly kind to the dozens of retro-swing acts that have sprouted up in recent years...but at least he had the good sense to knock the Cherry Poppin' Daddies down to size!

Yanow covers almost every aspect of swing(he's left out Banu Gibson!), with a few acceptions. From Louis armstrong's Hot Fives & Sevens to Glenn Miller, to Squirrell Nut Zippers. Surprisingly the tough jazz critic likes Bran Setzer's Dirty boogie Cd, and gives Squirrel Nut Zippers HOT cd, a rating of 9(out of 10)! A great book and Yanow tells it like it is, if it doesn't swing, or the musucianship is poor he's not afraid to say so. a grea thonest book that will tell you what cd's to bu yand what to skip. Includes an interview with big band leader Lavay Smith(he gives her cd a perfect 10 rating)! Even a whole section here on modern swing including Big Bad Voovdoo Daddy, Cherry Poppin Daddies, and more... Fun book to read while stuck on the toilet, I keep one in all three of my bathrooms, and one in the car for when I go to record stores!!!

Swing takes readers into a world that few of us know. Yanow's research is flawless and his writer's voice is full of respect for the rich history of the jazz world. Even novices will enjoy this book. It is the standard for all other jazz books.