cover image Jazz

Jazz

John Fordham. DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley), $29.95 (216pp) ISBN 978-1-56458-298-0

Fodham, British jazz critic for the Guardian and author of Let's Join Hands and Contact the Living , here presents a lively visual overview of jazz history. Along with hundreds of photos, time charts and other illustrations, the book covers jazz through the 1990s and offers ample descriptions of jazz instruments--voice, strings, drums and woodwinds--and musical techniques--melody, composing, dance roots and improvisation. Fodham highlights more than 250 classic jazz recordings, providing brief commentary along with a picture of each album cover. Informative biographical sketches celebrate 20 jazz greats, including Billie Holiday, Jelly Roll Morton, Lester Young and Ornette Coleman. (Nov.)