Riding On A Blue Note: Jazz And American Pop

by Gary Giddins

Gary Giddins, winner of the 1998 National Book Critics Circle Award, has a following that includes not only jazz enthusiasts but also pop music fans of every stripe. Writing here in a lyrical and celebratory style all his own, Giddins dazzlingly shows us among many other things how performers originally perceived as radical (Bing Crosby, Count Basie, Elvis Presley) became conservative institutions . . . how Charlie Parker created a masterpiece from the strain of an inane ditty . . . how the Dominoes helped combine church ritual with pop music . . . and how Irving Berlin translated a chiaroscuro of Lower East Side minorities into imperishable songs.

Genres: Music, Jazz, History, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1981

Reviews

[RA]

Gary Giddins musings concerning Jazz & American Pop music, somewhat overly detailed - is he showing off, self-indulgent or proving his worth? Some very interesting takes on a wide variety of music, but then a friend reminded me in his long book on Jazz, he does not mention the legendary John Gilmore, one of the most influential tenor saxophonists of the 20th Century. However, worth reading.

[Jazz Fan]

Comprehensive about certain types of jazz, but does not cover the more modern developments. A great introduction, however.