Jazz for Dummies

Every jazz lover's got his or her favorites. For some, it's John Coltrane's breathy, bitter-sweat ballad, "Naima." For others, it's Duke Ellington's hard-jiving swing opus "Take the A Train." Then there's Miles Davis's epic-making "Kind of Blue," the improv tour de force in which Miles, Trane, and Cannonball trade solos and achieve sheer melodic transcendence. Whether you like it hip or mellow, hot or cool, Dixieland or "avant garde, " jazz is a vast and many-faceted sound space (and soul space) that you could spend a lifetime exploring. And it couldn't hurt to have a savvy guide like former "Los Angeles Times" jazz critic and author Dirk Sutro to help you navigate its many depths and riches.In "Jazz For Dummies," Sutro takes you deep into the history and soulful sounds of jazz. From Sachmo to Bird, Mingus to Weather Report, you get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the masters and their music, and you: Get the lowdown on jazz, firsthand, from today's greats Get inside the different types of jazz--from big band to bee-bop to funkGet a handle on the concepts, terms, and conventions that distinguish jazz from other forms of musicGet a perspective on the history of jazzPut together a fine jazz collection of your ownRecognize the key characteristics of particular players' sounds. Whether you're getting into jazz for the first time or you're been in the scene for years, "Jazz For Dummies" is a treasure trove of facts, insights, and guidance on: One hundred years of jazz--from Dixieland to fusion and beyondGreat front men and women, on sax, trumpet vocalsKeyboard geniuses of jazz from ragtime to the presentPercussionists, bassists, and guitarists of noteShopping for jazz recordings and finding live jazz in your area. The bonus CD features a sampling of vintage recordings, including cuts by Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Art Tatum, and others. Your swingin' guide to the world of jazz, "Jazz For Dummies" lets you tune into the different jazz styles and help you become a more savvy listener.