by Geoffrey C . Ward (Author), KenBurns (Author)
It is America's music - born out of a million American negotiations- between having and not having; between happy and sad, country and city; between black and white and men and women; between the Old Africa and the Old Europe - which could only have happened in an entirely New World.It is an improvisational art, making itself up as it goes along - just like the country that gave it birth. It demands individual expression but demands selfless collaboration. It is forever changing but nearly always rooted in the blues. It has a rich tradition and its own rules but it is brand-new every night. 'Jazz,' the drummer Art Blakey liked to say, 'washes away the dust of everyday life'.Above all, it swings.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 480
Publisher: Pimlico
Published: 25 Jan 2001
ISBN 10: 0712667695
ISBN 13: 9780712667692
Book Overview: A real gem - the history of jazz, beautifully illustrated with more than 200 illustrations