Jazz: A History of America's Music by Geoffrey C. Ward, Ken Burns Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Jazz: A History of America's Music
Book Review: It left me wanting more - a lot more
Summary: 3 Stars
While the content presented is excellent and well laid out, the point of view is based very much on Ken Burns' personal tastes. There are many great artist with great stories who were either glossed over or left out entirely. I recommend that anyone with an interest in jazz read this book. However, if you have a somewhat indepth knowledge of jazz history,or are looking for a particular favorite artist, you might be a little disappointed.Book Review: A lavishly illustrated history of jazz music
Summary: 5 Stars
Jazz: A History Of America's Music provides a lavishly illustrated history of jazz music, from its roots in the black community to its rise as an American musical art form. Civil rights struggles, business and community relationships and musical style alike were all affected by the rise of jazz music: Jazz: A History of America's Music provides an outstanding visual and text coverage of the genre.Book Review: The true story of jazz still hasn't been told.....
Summary: 2 Stars
I read this book because: of my love for old school jazz and the big "HOOPLA" over this publication! I can't say that I gained much knowledge from this book. If you are a true collector of jazz and know Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Lee Morgan, Charlie Parker, Dizzy, Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, Billie Holiday, Coltrane and others then you already know more or as much as what is written here.You've got 512 pages to tell a story about a subject so diverse and complex that I don't know how he did it and felt that justice was done! What I would have preferred he did was to write several books on jazz EACH concentrating on a particular era. That way I think the public would get a true and comprehensive study of our most beautiful and natural resource--jazz. Sorry but I can't offer a rating higher than 2 - 2 1/2 stars.Book Review: A Good Introduction To Jazz
Summary: 4 Stars
I would endorse this book and the accompanying series as a way for neophytes to enter an extremely challenging and complicated genre and as a reasonably good summation of the history of Jazz through 1960. But I would hope that Ken Burns' work isn't received as the final word on Jazz. Too often projects of these nature take on a Hand of God character and are regarded simply as the final take on a theme. Not so here, and anyone who knows the history of Jazz will point to numerous ommissions throughout the series. But if you're looking for a good entertaining way to learn or enjoy Jazz, this is probably a good bet. And if even one person ends up liking Jazz as a result of Burns' work, the world will be a better place. The series can't hurt and the debate is healthy. It just shouldn't be regarded as the only word on the subject.Book Review: Total and complete jazz retrospective.
Summary: 5 Stars
It's a shame that jazz isn't as popular a music form as it was from it's beginning to the late 50's. There's something about the syncopation, improvisation, and vocal styling combination that I think is unsurpassed in today's techno, bubblegum pop inundated culture. This book is for both the true jazz aficionado and the jazz amateur. From its New Orleans start to today's foremost jazz artists, Wynton Marsalis and Cassandra Wilson, it's all there. As mentioned in a couple of reviews, the book does give a short shrift to contemporary jazz...I feel that the main reason for that is that jazz, unfortunately, doesn't enjoy near the popularity it did in its hey-day. What you will come away with, however, is a feel for the social, historical, and ethnic backgrounds that shaped jazz as an American art form. These lavish pictures, quotes, and biographies of the greats...Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Count Basie...you know who they are! will captivate you and make you feel as if you have always been a part of this musical phenomenon.