Describes the lives of notable jazz singers, traces their influence on one another, and investigates the impact of different innovators on the development of jazz music.
--This text refers to the
Library Binding
edition.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up. This collective biography chronicles the careers of jazz legends such as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan as well as more contemporary stars such as Harry Connick, Jr. Gourse groups the singers into historical periods as well as by the general influences on their styles, such as those who were inspired by Louis Armstrong, or the bebop sound. Unfortunately, a lot of repetition and parallel time lines end up confusing rather than clarifying matters. A middle insert section called "The Jazz Singing Tree" amounts to little more than a rehash of the other chapters. The same material is churned up over and over throughout the main body of the text as well. When examining the source notes, readers find that a good many of the quotations come from the author's previous books. The presentation ends abruptly, listing 10 artists who were important but couldn't be included in more detail. This final whimper leaves readers up in the air regarding the significance of jazz singing. Swingers does provide biographical information on some fairly obscure people, and for that reason may be of use. There are a few excellent-quality archival photos, such as that of a young Bing Crosby.?Tim Wadham, Dallas Public Library, TX
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Only for Jazz Beginners,
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This review is from: Swingers and Crooners: The Art of Jazz Singing (Paperback)
As a lover of jazz, it pains me to be overly criticial of a book about a subject that I love, but I have no choice when it comes to "Swingers and Crooners." Although the book has a fair amount of good information, and even some good insights, it is generally written in a childlike manner--as if it were intended for a pre-teen. Also, as the editorial review suggests, much in the book seems repetitive--as if the author were running out of things to say. Finally, she just makes weird overly simplistic statements in a desperate attempt to make her point. Take this line (while trying to explain why jazz was being overtaken by rock and roll): "[President] Johnson had been in Washington a long time and knew secrets about members of Congress. They did't want to be exposed. So Congress passed civil rights and equal opportunity acts for African-Americans and other minority groups...." Congress passed civil rights legislation merely because they didn't want to "be exposed" by President Johnson?? Surely, it's not that simple. But this book is--sometimes--that simple-minded. Only recommended for kids.
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