Jazz Styles: History and Analysis

by Mark C. Gridley

A layman's guide to jazz, this #1 best-seller focuses on what jazz is, how it is made, and how to listen to it--pairing written narrative with audio recordings as it details the basic musical principles, important styles, major artists, musical trends, history, innovations, and instruments of jazz. Highlighting the musical characteristics of each style and contrasting each successive era in a point-by-point manner, it offer companion CDs, cassettes and a video to help the reader/listeners improve their ear for music, increase their listening enjoyment, and gain a deeper appreciation of the many layers of sound music. Provides an informative, chronological study of jazz, with insightful commentaries on it's origins, and full descriptions of the various styles of jazz and contributing artists. Covers early jazz, swing, bop, cool jazz, "free" jazz, and jazz-rock fusion--highlighting the musical characteristics of each style and contrasting each successive era. Discusses many influential performers, including Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Jaco Pastorius. Integrates numerous photos, and detailed drawings of hard-to-describe instruments, and includes 21 "Listening Guides with Timings" that help readers analyze CD pieces measure-by-measure. Ties material to accompanying recordings "Jazz Styles" and Jazz Classics, " available in both cassette and CD; also features a 60-minute video version of "Jazz Styles" that demonstrates all instruments and rhythm section methods. Now looks at the blues, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and acid jazz, plus updates CD collection list and footnotes. For music buffs and jazzaficionados.

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

458 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.