Jazz Styles: History and Analysis

by Mark C. Gridley

For undergraduate courses in Jazz History, Jazz Survey, Evolution of Jazz, Introduction to Jazz, and Jazz Appreciation. America's most widely used introduction to jazz, it teaches the chronology of jazz by showing students how to listen and what to notice in each style. Though originally conceived for nonmusicians and written at a college freshmen reading level, Jazz Styles also has been widely adopted in courses for musicians because of its point-by-point specification of each style's musical characteristics and its technical appendix. The text helps students hear how the styles differ and why the top names are important. The book's listening guides offer in-depth analysis for 38 historic recordings contained on the 2CD Jazz Classics collection.

Genres: Music, Jazz, History, Nonfiction, Reference, Textbooks, College

418 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

interessante appendix over muziektheorie

[Tara]

I have the first edition which i just picked up at a used bookstore--its cover is way better--graffiti supposedly sprayed by crazed jazz fans! I picked this book out because (besides the cover) I want to learn some music theory and this book actually has a chapter on Ornette Coleman and a section on Sun Ra. I was getting frustrated that Ornette Coleman is always described as revolutionary-genious-influential in documentaries and then proceeds to get about 2 sec. of airtime and discussion..

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this book would give a more historical perspective than it did. But for the under educated listener it exposes students to early musical theory required to become an educated jazz listener.

[Rob Hoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a serious jazz fan for many years and I've found that Dr. Gridley's Jazz Styles is the ESSENTIAL resource for understanding the varieties of creative improvised music. I go back to this text frequently for its insightful treatment of the contributions of both the familiar jazz artists and those who are less familiar but deserve our attention.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great survey to help you understand the emergence and growth jazz and even boasts a "musician's" appendix with some material for the more skilled reader. Its musings on the popularity or unpopularity of various styles are humorously academic.

[Inggita · Rating 2 out of 5]

i learned about the two most important aspects of the music that make a composition considered as "jazz": improvisation (i get that), and a swing feeling (now this can't be read about). I had the 2nd edition of this title, and it didn't come with a CD so there's no way that i can learn why Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" is considered by some as jazz for example.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

jazz history text with some basic analysis of playing styles and techniques.