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Jazz Books

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The History of Jazz The History of Jazz (Paperback)
by (shelved 129 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.07 — 5,942 ratings — published 1997
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Miles: The Autobiography Miles: The Autobiography (Paperback)
by (shelved 127 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.20 — 17,539 ratings — published 1989
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But Beautiful: A Book About Jazz But Beautiful: A Book About Jazz (Paperback)
by (shelved 85 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.23 — 3,468 ratings — published 1992
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How to Listen to Jazz How to Listen to Jazz (Hardcover)
by (shelved 81 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.06 — 2,648 ratings — published 2016
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Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original (Hardcover)
by (shelved 76 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.31 — 2,633 ratings — published 2009
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Beneath the Underdog Beneath the Underdog (Paperback)
by (shelved 59 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.83 — 3,963 ratings — published 1971
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3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool 3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool (Hardcover)
by (shelved 53 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.34 — 2,633 ratings — published 2024
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Lady Sings the Blues Lady Sings the Blues (Paperback)
by (shelved 46 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.05 — 8,127 ratings — published 1956
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The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire (Hardcover)
by (shelved 41 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.45 — 494 ratings — published 2012
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A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album (Paperback)
by (shelved 41 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.27 — 1,433 ratings — published 2002
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The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby (Paperback)
by (shelved 40 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.92 — 6,184,203 ratings — published 1925
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John Coltrane: His Life and Music (The Michigan American Music Series) John Coltrane: His Life and Music (The Michigan American Music Series)
by (shelved 40 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.16 — 637 ratings — published 1998
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Kind Of Blue: The Making Of The Miles Davis Masterpiece Kind Of Blue: The Making Of The Miles Davis Masterpiece (Paperback)
by (shelved 38 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.27 — 1,418 ratings — published 2000
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Bird Lives!: The High Life & Hard Times of Charlie (Yardbird) Parker Bird Lives!: The High Life & Hard Times of Charlie (Yardbird) Parker
by (shelved 37 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.18 — 803 ratings — published 1973
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VISIONS OF JAZZ: THE FIRST CENTURY: The First Century VISIONS OF JAZZ: THE FIRST CENTURY: The First Century (Paperback)
by (shelved 37 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.18 — 402 ratings — published 1998
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Coltrane: The Story of a Sound Coltrane: The Story of a Sound (Hardcover)
by (shelved 36 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.95 — 985 ratings — published 2007
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Playing Changes: Jazz for the New Century Playing Changes: Jazz for the New Century (Hardcover)
by (shelved 34 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.14 — 690 ratings — published 2018
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The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (Paperback)
by (shelved 33 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.44 — 501 ratings — published 1992
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As Serious As Your Life: John Coltrane and Beyond As Serious As Your Life: John Coltrane and Beyond (Paperback)
by (shelved 32 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.31 — 687 ratings — published 1977
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Space is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra Space is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra (Paperback)
by (shelved 31 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.20 — 1,368 ratings — published
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Straight Life: The Story Of Art Pepper Straight Life: The Story Of Art Pepper (Paperback)
by (shelved 31 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.34 — 1,088 ratings — published 1980
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Kansas City Lightning: The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker Kansas City Lightning: The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker (Hardcover)
by (shelved 30 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.88 — 1,004 ratings — published 2013
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The Jazz Theory Book The Jazz Theory Book (Spiral-bound)
by (shelved 30 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.45 — 1,075 ratings — published 1995
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Herbie Hancock: Possibilities Herbie Hancock: Possibilities (Hardcover)
by (shelved 29 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.24 — 1,682 ratings — published 2014
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Jazz Jazz (Hardcover)
by (shelved 29 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.19 — 302 ratings — published 2009
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Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn (Paperback)
by (shelved 29 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.31 — 763 ratings — published 1996
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Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings (Paperback)
by (shelved 29 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.05 — 631 ratings — published 1998
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Jazz: A History of America's Music Jazz: A History of America's Music (Paperback)
by (shelved 28 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.16 — 592 ratings — published
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Coming Through Slaughter (Vintage International) Coming Through Slaughter (Vintage International)
by (shelved 27 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.86 — 7,224 ratings — published 1976
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Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (Hardcover)
by (shelved 26 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.05 — 321,527 ratings — published 2009
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Thinking in Jazz : The Infinite Art of Improvisation (Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology Series) Thinking in Jazz : The Infinite Art of Improvisation (Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology Series)
by (shelved 25 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.27 — 245 ratings — published 1994
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The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records (Hardcover)
by (shelved 24 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.03 — 433 ratings — published 2006
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Blues People: Negro Music in White America ― A Cultural History of Blues and Jazz Blues People: Negro Music in White America ― A Cultural History of Blues and Jazz (Paperback)
by (shelved 24 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.16 — 2,500 ratings — published 1963
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Black Music Black Music (Paperback)
by (shelved 23 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.11 — 593 ratings — published 1966
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Miles Davis: The Definitive Biography Miles Davis: The Definitive Biography (Paperback)
by (shelved 23 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.15 — 910 ratings — published 1998
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Ascension: John Coltrane And His Quest Ascension: John Coltrane And His Quest (Paperback)
by (shelved 23 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.01 — 438 ratings — published 1993
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Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life (Hardcover)
by (shelved 23 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.95 — 663 ratings — published 2008
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Hear Me Talkin' To Ya Hear Me Talkin' To Ya (Paperback)
by (shelved 23 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.27 — 192 ratings — published 1955
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Half Blood Blues Half Blood Blues (Paperback)
by (shelved 22 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.71 — 17,941 ratings — published 2011
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Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington (Hardcover)
by (shelved 22 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.89 — 679 ratings — published 2013
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On the Road On the Road (Paperback)
by (shelved 22 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.61 — 462,674 ratings — published 1957
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Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong (Hardcover)
by (shelved 22 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.15 — 990 ratings — published 2009
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Early Jazz: Its Roots and Musical Development (The ^AHistory of Jazz) Early Jazz: Its Roots and Musical Development (The ^AHistory of Jazz)
by (shelved 22 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.14 — 109 ratings — published 1968
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Music is My Mistress Music is My Mistress (Paperback)
by (shelved 22 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.98 — 459 ratings — published 1973
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The Jazz Book: From Ragtime to Fusion and Beyond The Jazz Book: From Ragtime to Fusion and Beyond (Paperback)
by (shelved 21 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.18 — 256 ratings — published 1953
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Charlie Parker Played Be Bop Charlie Parker Played Be Bop (Board Book)
by (shelved 21 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.04 — 811 ratings — published 1992
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Notes and Tones: Musician-to-Musician Interviews (Expanded Edition) Notes and Tones: Musician-to-Musician Interviews (Expanded Edition)
by (shelved 21 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.46 — 287 ratings — published 1977
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to Be or not to Bop: Memoirs- Dizzy Gillespie to Be or not to Bop: Memoirs- Dizzy Gillespie (Hardcover)
by (shelved 20 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.25 — 196 ratings — published 1979
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Jazz (Beloved Trilogy, #2) Jazz (Beloved Trilogy, #2)
by (shelved 19 times as jazz)
avg rating 3.91 — 41,658 ratings — published 1992
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The Birth Of Bebop: A Social And Musical History The Birth Of Bebop: A Social And Musical History (Paperback)
by (shelved 19 times as jazz)
avg rating 4.30 — 113 ratings — published 1997
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What the Eye Hears by Brian SeibertTappin' at the Apollo by Cheryl M. WillisBrotherhood in Rhythm by Constance Valis HillJazz Dance by Marshall W. StearnsTalking Feet by Mike Seeger
Tap Dance Resources
46 books — 2 voters
Total Jazz by BlutchMonk! by Youssef DaoudiAmerican Splendor by Harvey PekarChasin' the Bird by Dave ChisholmHot Jazz by Hunt Emerson
Jazz Illustrated
10 books — 3 voters

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Boris Vian
“Sans le jazz, la vie serait une erreur”
― Boris Vian

Vera Nazarian
“If Music is a Place -- then Jazz is the City, Folk is the Wilderness, Rock is the Road, Classical is a Temple.”
― Vera Nazarian

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