Favorite Books About Jazz

[crawjo]

Since great books about jazz don't seem to be as plentiful as great jazz music, I'll list a top 5:

1. Space is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra by John Szwed
2. Blues People by Leroi Jones
3. Miles Davis and American Culture edited by Gerald Early
4. Visions of Jazz by Gary Giddins
5. Ascension: John Coltrane and His Quest by Eric Nisenson

[Brian Olewnick]

AB Spellman - Four Lives in the Bebop Business

Charles Mingus - Beneath the Underdog

Graham Lock - Forces in Motion


I'm very much looking forward to George Lewis' upcoming (I hope) book on the AACM.

[Root Doctor]

I read Lock's book a few months ago, Brian. It's a good one.

I'd add Val Wilmer's "As Serious as Your Life" to the list, as well Ted Gioia's "West Coast Jazz."

[stonemonkts]

I haven't read too many, but I'd like to add Ted Gioia's "History of Jazz". It's a nicely written overview, a helpful primer for people new to the idiom.

I should pick up a copy of "West Coast Jazz" since I like the writer and the topic.