Jazz Abz: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits

by Wynton Marsalis

In a swinging improvisation with poster artist Paul Rogers, Wynton Marsalis celebrates the spirit of twenty-six stellar jazz performers, from Armstrong to Dizzy -- and showcases the same number of poetic forms.

A is for almighty Louis Armstrong, whose amazing artistry unfolds in an accumulative poem shaped like the letter he stands for. As for sax master Sonny Rollins, whose robust style radiates roundness, could there be a better tribute...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763621358
• ISBN13: 9780763621353
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 76 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 11.2" x 10.4"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

A classroom must have!

I found this book on sale at a local bookshop and instantly fell in love with it. Not only does it provide an introduction to Jazz but it also became a perfect tool to create a Jazz theme for my classroom. Although wordy it makes a wonderful demonstration on the power of an oral performance, and the poems can be adapted for students to allow them to create their own. A great way to add cultural diversity for those who are tired of the slavery and civil rights curriculum. A must have for teachers.

'And all that jazz'

This book is infectious! For those committed and devoted to Jazz this is a book that will bring smiles and memories and plaudits to the many giants of this most American of music forms. But to those of us whose knowledge of the impact of jazz on the spirit of music has always been from the periphery, here is a book to discover and celebrate an idiom so joyous in nature and in the presentation of this book that new converts are guaranteed! The concept of presenting famous jazz figures from A to Z (in actuality from Louis Armstrong to DiZzy Gillespie) is a sound one in that it does not tend to group artists by style or time. Each of the featured giants is introduced in poetic form written by Wynton Marsalis, poems that ring of jazz styles themselves. Additional succinct biographical data is sprinkled throughout the handsome design of the book. And each of the figures is brought to visual life by the stunning artwork of Paul Rogers, an illustrator who obviously loves and understands jazz in tandem with Marsalis. Though this book is being marketed for youngsters ages 4 - 8 or for junior high students, the book as an artwork and as an introduction to the world of jazz is so well done that it makes a terrific excursion for readers of any age and degree of jazz sophistication. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, May 06

Great art work, might be too many words for the littler ones.

The art work is first rate: each page would make a great poster, it's that stylized and refined. The print and colors are high quality and elegant. The selection of jazz greats -- only one musician per letter -- may seem unfair and arbitrary to some readers. But hey, it doesn't promise to be an encyclopedia or who's who! Loosen up! Remember, it's an intro for kids! I like how it's light and not *too* educational and pedantic. My gripe that it's too wordy, too poetic. It's extremely tiring to read to the little ones, especially late at night at crankytime. If there were a dumbed down, large text version, I would buy it. Seriously.