First Book Of Jazz

by Langston Hughes, Cliff Roberts (Illustrator)

"A useful, simplified introduction to the history of jazz and its techniques, with capsule profiles of musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke, all by one of the brightest lights of the Harlem Renaissance and African-American letters". PUBLISHERS WEEKLY. Illustrated throughout by Cliff Roberts' stylized bebop drawings.

Genres: Music, Jazz, Childrens, Nonfiction, History, Art, Biography

88 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1982

About the author

Through poetry, prose, and drama, American writer James Langston Hughes made important contributions to the Harlem renaissance; his best-known works include Weary Blues (1926) and The Ways of White Folks (1934).

People best know this social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist James Mercer Langston Hughes, one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry, for his famous written work about the period, when "Harlem was in vogue."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langsto...

Reviews

[Chris Callaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great way to introduce kids not only to jazz but also to music theory and history. Hughes's writing is clear and accessible but doesn't "talk down" to young readers. Cliff Roberts's illustrations are wonderful, too. The main downside to this book is that it was written in the mid-50s, which means that a lot of who we now think of as giant figures in jazz (Miles, Trane) never get mentioned. But Hughes prominently features Louis Armstrong and other early greats, and I loved his explanation of the roots of jazz in African music and music created by slaves in New Orleans. Parents will want to know that there are a couple terms that are now seen as inappropriate ("colored" and "Negro").

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fabulous romp through the creation of jazz and the blues. I loved how Hughes used the life of Louis Armstrong and his family as the thread through the story of how jazz came to be, it brought it all to life. It is obvious that Langston Hughes loved jazz and was proud of its heritage and I learned while enjoying myself immensely.

[Akosua Adjei · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this, I’m hope to find the Langston Hughes playlist on Spotify

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magical book for young and young-at-heart readers. Hughes walks the reader through the streets of New Orleans, Chicago, and New York, and surrounds her by jazz greats playing a variety of instruments, from the classic to the obscure. The stories are so immersive and fun, and the drawings so heart warming, that the book feels microscopically short. I found a discarded library copy on Amazon, and while it's hard to believe a library would get rid of it, I was so grateful to be able to save it for the next generation. For the true music geeks, this Amazon review may be of interest.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Jazz is a way of playing music even more than it is a composed music. Almost any music can become jazz if it is played with jazz treatment" (46). Hughes' nonfiction for children brings with the birth of Louis Armstrong and ends with a list of Hughes; 100 favorite recordings of jazz, blues, folk songs, and jazz-influenced performances. It's a smart, helpful work with unique illustrations by Cliff Roberts. Roberts' illustrations are not unlike Christian Robinson's today.

[McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is simultaneously the most accessible and most substantive / deep book on jazz I have read. It explains the essence of jazz more thoroughly and accurately than many far more complex books on the subject, and yet it is written as, and succeeds as, a children's book. Anyone with even a passing interest in either jazz specifically or music history or theory generally would be well-served by reading this book.

[Félix Vanier · Rating 5 out of 5]

très bon livre sur le jazz. J'ai lu la version en français qui est honnêtement un heureux mini wheats. Dans le sens où je dirais que le contenu qui est blé entier est très pertinent et concis quoique le coté sucré donné par le fait que c'est concis et très bien dessiné par l'illustrateur fait en sorte que j'ai bien aimé.

[William John Wither · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though lacking a certain amount of substance, now that we're in an age of democratized music streaming, this book is a perfectly suitable companion to guide a listener through some of jazz's greats.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encyclopedic in a summery way. Great reference for the colder months. I'm in need of a physical copy to place next to a collection of Langston's favorite records.

[Raena Mceuin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a super accessible way to introduce those unfamiliar with Jazz to it's history and basic tunes. The post-modern, funky, angular style of the illustrations add to it's eclectic appeal and ties hand-in-hand with the nature of Jazz sometimes. Part of the book show depictions of musicians crooning and jamming away on their instruments, some pages offer snippets of tunes themselves annotated in traditional format right on the page. Alongside the book, Hughes released a companion record, The Story of Jazz, featuring Hughes’ lively, vivid narration of jazz history in three tracks, each focusing on a distinct element of the genre. Of course, I would pair all of this with music. I'd use this with 2nd or 3rd graders to start, since they've had a little more schooling with the idea of musical styles and their connection to history.

[Lisa Quenon · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I'd spent more time with this book, I may have understood it better. It did not resonate with me. I did not particularly understand what I was looking at. Probably says more about me than the book.