New Encyclopedia of Free Jazz/Improv

[amerijazz]

Press Release

PRESENTING THE FIRST EVER ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FREE MUSIC
Free Jazz and Free Improvisation: An Encyclopedia, by Todd S. Jenkins: Greenwood Press, September 30, 2004

Nationally recognized jazz writer Todd S. Jenkins has had his first book published by Greenwood Press in Westport, CT. Released on September 30, 2004, Free Jazz and Free Improvisation: An Encyclopedia is a fully comprehensive, two-volume set covering the history, theory, and performers of the avant-garde edge of jazz and improvised music.

Misunderstood and maligned in its infancy, free jazz was once labeled "anti-jazz" by the blindered music media. But in this new century, free music is gaining more public acceptance through the efforts of international music educators, music festivals, and high-profile enthusiasts like Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and punk godfathers Lou Reed and Henry Rollins. This ambitious, nearly exhaustive overview of free music was nearly eight years in the making and involved over 5,000 hours of analysis of recordings from across the globe and the timeline of jazz.

Says the author, "The more I dug into this fascinating music and its history, the more appalled I was at how poorly it had been documented in print. There are a few standard texts on the subject, but I felt that no one had evaluated free music deeply enough as a serious, respectable art form. What was in print was largely outdated and very limited in scope, so I decided to take the All Music Guide approach and assemble a comprehensive, A-to-Z look at free jazz and improv and the people who play it."

The 553-page encyclopedia presents over 650 informative entries about the musicians, collectives, venues and record labels associated with free jazz and free improvisation around the world. Included are a chronology of important events, analysis of the characteristics and development of free music, alphabetical listings of entries for artists, venues and labels, and an expansive, 75-page index. The titans of free music -- Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Joe McPhee, Evan Parker -- are honored alongside up-and-coming performers like saxophonist Bhob Rainey, trumpeter Greg Kelley, electronic musician Sachiko M, and shakuhachi improviser Phil Gelb. All of the major, free-oriented music festivals and record labels are covered, and the encyclopedia entries direct readers to over 1,000 recommended recordings.

There has never been a more comprehensive study of free jazz and improvisation than this major new reference work. It will be a welcome addition to public libraries and to the bookshelves of educators, secondary and collegiate music programs, music writers and fans of improvised music. Those who already appreciate free jazz will find it as informative and useful as those who are just beginning to investigate this "final frontier" of contemporary music.

The author, Todd S. Jenkins, resides in San Bernardino, California, and is a contributor to Down Beat, All About Jazz, Signal To Noise, and Route 66 Magazine. He is a founding director of the American Jazz Symposium and a member of the Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) and the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE). Presently he is writing a listener's guide to the music of Charles Mingus and the biography of jazz pianist Jimmy Rowles.

Mr. Jenkins is available for interviews, lectures and media appearances; contact Outlet Dance Media at outletdance@aol.com. Free Jazz and Free Improvisation: An Encyclopedia is now available from Greenwood Press (http://www.greenwood.com/) for $175.00. For review copies, please fax requests on official letterhead to 203-222-1502, or write:

Greenwood Press
88 Post Road West
Westport, CT 06881

[Pete C]

I can't afford to buy a copy, but I'll look forward to reading some at a library. I love that Greenwood does projects like this.

Todd, you should participate here more often; I'm sure you have lots of insights to offer.

[amerijazz]

Thanks, Pete! I try to stick my head in the door whenever I can, but I'm usually busting tail on reviews, articles, whatever. I'm juggling three books right now and can barely take time to sneeze. But I loooooove this forum and hope to join in more often in the near future.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by amerijazz

I'm juggling three books right now

I trust this isn't one of them:

[amerijazz]

No way. I gave Mr. Dewey a chance when I was in high school. The experience gave new meaning to keeeping the audience in stitches.

[amerijazz]

For those who are interested, here's the review from the upcoming issue of Library Journal:

*JENKINS, TODD S. Free Jazz and Free Improvisation: An Encyclopedia. 2 vols.

Greenwood. Nov. 2004. 610p. index. ISBN 0-313-29881-5. $175. REF

Free jazz, born in the mid-20th century, met with resistance and criticism
from all quarters-the fans, the critics, and many jazz musicians themselves.
Fifty years later, many of the early free jazz players have taken their places in the jazz pantheon, and as this exhaustive and impressive set shows, free jazz is alive and well. Jenkins (director, American Jazz Symposium) skillfully defines free jazz and makes a careful distinction between what might be considered "free jazz" and what might be considered "free improvisation." This allows for the inclusion of many musicians who improvise but are not thought of as jazz players; it brings into focus, as no other work has to date, the nature of a subset of musical expression that shares a common creative spirit. The majority of the 650 entries are biographical-ranging from Ahmed Abdullah to John Zorn-but important performances, recordings, record labels, ensembles, and festivals are covered as well, including scores of often overlooked musicians and recordings. The depth of coverage of the vital European improvisational music scene is indispensable, and Jenkins's grasp of his material is evident in the relative weight he gives to various subjects. For instance, many entries are a paragraph or two, but Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor get 12 and 14 pages, respectively. Bottom Line: As the first resource devoted to an enduring and influential American Musical form, this is highly recommended for all libraries. - Mark Woodhouse, Elmira Coll. Lib., NY

[Isca]

On the subject of books I really enjoyed this book on DB, it's really humorous in parts and in particular the wit of DB shines through. So for a more easily digestible read this may be the one for you.