What Jazz Is: An Insider's Guide to Understanding and Listening to Jazz

by Jonny King

Book Overview

"You have to talk about how jazz is like a language. Musical improvisation can put people at a distance, primarily because of jazz's limited exposure. When people realize that everyone who creates a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802775195
• ISBN13: 9780802775191
• Release Date: August 1997
• Publisher: Walker Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Tremendous introduction to jazz

What an absolute pleasure to sit down on a rainy afternoon with Jonny King's book open to the chapter on "Ballads," reading his affectionate deconstruction of Hank Mobley's "Remember", playing Mobley's CD at the same time and listening along ... then listening again, and again, hearing new things every time. King's enthusiastic and accessible analyses open doors for those of us who have always liked jazz, but never fully appreciated its structure and nuances because we don't play an instrument and haven't known precisely what to listen for. I fervently hope the author is working on Volume Two.

Be bopping before you know it...

For years I wondered about the appeal and popularity of jazz music. What jazz I heard seemed bizarre, cacophonous, and, well, not worth listening to. Jonny King's book (and it's CD) changed all of that and I've converted into a definite jazz fan.King's book is the perfect introduction and does what it sets out to do: present the jazz neophyte with an understanding of what jazz is, what the musicians are doing as they play, and how to listen to jazz on different levels. An excellent book that has given me a whole new world of music to explore and appreciate. If you are beginning to explore the jazz scene, this book is the perfect primer!

Best of its kind.

Checked this book out of the library twice. Decided that I needed my own copy. Absolutely clear, accessible to the jazz novice. I use it as a reference as I continue my jazz education. Highly recommended as a road-map to understanding and enjoying jazz.

A small book to read - a large step to understand jazz!

No mystical stuff, but clear insights in the music. No insider's chatt, but interesting facts, fascinating stories, concise examples (from Blakey to Trane, from Sonny to Ornette). This small book has a lot to tell and made me listen, listen, listen... Very enjoyable. Highly recommended!

Brings jazz alive

I have read and own many books about jazz history as well as "how-to" books on jazz. This book is the best overall that I have read. Mr. King makes you feel as if you are in a club listening to the music. He communicates the overall feeling of the music as he gives you the details into how the music comes together. At the end he gives analyses of 10 different songs that can be read as the songs are played. Overall, a terrific book.