The Best Jazz Music Books

Looking for the best jazz music books? Check out our picks for the top titles on the subject, perfect for both beginners and experts alike.

Best Jazz Music Books

If you’re looking for the best jazz music books, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll recommend five of the best jazz music books that you can buy. We’ll also give you a brief overview of each book so that you can make a more informed decision.

The Real Book

One of the most popular fake books ever published, “The Real Book” was first released in the 1970s and contains hundreds of songs written by some of the most famous jazz musicians of all time. While not every song in “The Real Book” is a true classic, it’s nonetheless an essential collection for any serious jazz fan.

The Jazz Theory Book

The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine is one of the most popular and well- respected books on the subject of jazz theory. It is used by students and professionals alike, and has become one of the standards by which other books on the subject are judged.

The book covers a wide range of topics, including harmony, melody, form, rhythm, and improvisation. It also includes a section on ear training, which is essential for any musician wanting to improve their skills.

Levine does an excellent job of explaining complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand, making this book an ideal choice for those just starting out in jazz theory as well as more experienced musicians who want to brush up on their knowledge.

The Jazz Piano Book

The Jazz Piano Book is a classic text that has been used by generations of jazz pianists. It covers a wide range of topics, from the history of jazz piano to technique and theory. For anyone serious about learning jazz piano, this is an essential book.

The Jazz Bass Book

The Jazz Bass Book by Mark J. Miller is one of the most popular jazz bass books available. It provides an in-depth look at the history of the jazz bass, as well as tips and techniques for playing the instrument.

Best Jazz History Books

These are the some of the best jazz history books. If you want to learn about the genre, or simply want to expand your knowledge, these books are essential reading.

Jazz: A History of America’s Music

Jazz: A History of America’s Music is a book by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns. First published in 2000, it was republished in paperback with a new afterword in 2001. The book is a companion to the PBS documentary series Jazz, directed by Burns.

The book covers the history of jazz from its origins in the late 19th century to the present day. It includes biographies of some of the genre’s most important musicians, as well as discussions of the social and cultural context in which jazz was created.

Jazz: A History of America’s Music is widely considered to be one of the best books on jazz history. It is praised for its engaging writing and wealth of information.

Jazz Age: The Rise of American Jazz Music

The Jazz Age was a time of great change in America. New technology and social changes led to new forms of music, and jazz was born. This style of music quickly became popular, and soon spread around the world.

Jazz Age: The Rise of American Jazz Music is a history book that tells the story of how this style of music developed and became so popular. It includes interviews with some of the most famous jazz musicians, as well as stories about the people and places that made this music what it is today.

Jazz in America: An Encyclopedia

Jazz in America: An Encyclopedia is a comprehensive guide to the history and development of jazz music in the United States. Written by leading experts on the subject, the book covers all aspects of jazz, from its African-American origins to its influence on popular culture. Including biographies of major figures, an overview of the genre’s key styles and movements, and a chronology of important events, this is the essential reference work on jazz for anyone with an interest in America’s musical heritage.

America’s Jazz Age: The Roaring Twenties

From the end of World War I to the start of the Great Depression, America’s “Jazz Age” was a time of great social and cultural change. This book tells the story of how a new kind of music – jazz – emerged from the melting pot of cultures in New Orleans and spread across the country, giving rise to a new generation of American artists, including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and George Gershwin. Along the way, it explores the impact of jazz on American society and culture, from its early days as “race music” to its emergence as America’s first truly popular art form.

Best Jazz Biographies

If you’re looking for the best jazz music books, look no further than this list of biographies. From Miles Davis to John Coltrane, these books will give you an inside look at the lives of some of the most important jazz musicians of all time.

Miles: The Autobiography

Miles: The Autobiography is the Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiography of jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, ghostwritten by music journalist Quincy Troupe and published in 1989.

The book chronicles Davis’ life from his childhood in 1926 to his retirement in 1991, with a focus on his musical career and how it was affected by racism, drug addiction, and relationships. It is considered one of the most important and influential jazz biographies ever written.

Bird: The Definitive Biography of Charlie Parker

saxophonist and composer Charlie “Bird” Parker was the most influential jazz musician of the bebop era. In this definitive biography, Ross Russell offers a uniquely intimate look at Parker’s life, chronicling his meteoric rise to fame in the 1940s and early 1950s as well as his struggles with heroin addiction, which ultimately led to his untimely death at the age of 34.

Through hundreds of interviews with Parker’s family, friends, and musical associates, Russell paints a vivid picture of the man and the musician, from Parker’s humble beginnings in Kansas City to his years spent honing his craft in New York City’s vibrant jazz scene. He also provides keen insights into Parker’s creative process and traces the evolution of his unique approach to improvisation.

With its wealth of previously unpublished material, Bird is an essential addition to any jazz fan’s library.

Dizzy: The Life and Times of John Birks Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie was one of the most influential figures in jazz history, and his influence is still felt today. This biography tells the story of his life, from his early days in South Carolina to his years as a major force in the world of jazz. It includes a wealth of photos and quotes from Dizzy himself, as well as from those who knew him best.

Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original

American music would be unthinkable without Thelonious Monk. A brilliant composer and innovative pianist, he was one of the small handful of extraordinary jazz artists who emerged in the late 1940s and changed the course of music forever. Robin D.G. Kelley’s Thelonious Monk is the first full-scale biography of this enigmatic, increasingly popular American original.

Drawing upon more than a hundred interviews with Monk’s family, friends, and fellow musicians–many of whom have never before spoken publicly about Monk–as well as a trove of private letters, diaries, and previously untapped public documents, Kelley gives us an intimate and nuanced portrait of one of the world’s most original musical thinkers.

Best Jazz Books for Beginners

If you’re interested in learning more about jazz music, there are a few great books that can help get you started. These books cover a wide range of topics, from the history of jazz to the different styles of playing. They’re also a great way to learn more about the different artists and bands that have made jazz what it is today.

All That Jazz: An Introduction to Jazz Music

Jazz is a musical art form that originated in the African-American communities of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is characterized by syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, and the use of original improvisation. Jazz has been described as ” America’s classical music ” and its history has been documented extensively.

The term “jazz” first emerged in the early 20th century, when African American musicians began to develop their own style of music, which was influenced by both European and African musical traditions. The earliest jazz bands were largely made up of New Orleans-based musicians who had migrated to other parts of the country, such as Chicago and New York City.

In the 1920s, jazz began to achieve national and international recognition, with artists such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Jelly Roll Morton becoming household names. By the 1930s, swing jazz was becoming increasingly popular, with bandleaders such as Benny Goodman and Count Basie leading large ensembles that included some of the era’s most talented musicians.

The 1940s saw the advent of bebop, a more complex form of jazz that was characterized by fast tempos, advanced harmonic techniques, and often virtuosic improvisation. Bebop was led by such pioneers as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.

In the 1950s and 1960s, jazz continued to evolve with the advent of hard bop, modal jazz, free jazz, and protest jazz. These styles were pioneered by artists such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins, Charles Mingus, Horace Silver, Sonny Rollins, Eric Dolphy, Cannonball Adderley and Max Roach.

Jazz has often been described as a ” melting pot ” because it draws elements from different cultural traditions; this is perhaps most evident in its use of improvisation – another key defining characteristic – which allows performers to express their individual musical personalities while still adhering to the overall structure of a piece.

The Jazz Handbook: A Guide to the Basics

If you’re new to jazz and want to learn the basics, then this is the book for you. “The Jazz Handbook: A Guide to the Basics” by Mark C.Gridley is a great introduction to the world of jazz. It covers topics such as the history of jazz, the different styles of jazz, and the most important jazz musicians. This book also includes a CD so you can listen to examples of each chapter as you read along.

Jazz 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Jazz Music

If you’re new to jazz and don’t know where to start, this list is for you. These are the best jazz books for beginners, covering a variety of topics such as the history of jazz, the major figures in jazz, and the different styles of jazz.

Jazz 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Jazz Music by John Szwed is the perfect place to start if you want to learn about the history of jazz. Szwed covers everything from the origins of jazz in New Orleans to the present day, and he does so in a way that is both informative and enjoyable to read.

If you’re looking for a more hands-on approach, then The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine is the book for you. Levine covers all the basics of jazz theory, such as harmony, improvisation, and rhythm. This book also comes with a CD so you can hear examples of what Levine is talking about.

Once you’ve got a grasp on the basics, it’s time to start exploring the different styles of jazz. A good place to start is with The World’d Best Jazz Collection by Bill Milkowski. This book collects together articles on all the major styles of jazz, from bebop to fusion and beyond. Each article is written by a different author, so you’ll get a wide range of perspectives on each style.

And finally, no list of best jazz books for beginners would be complete without The Jazz Standards by Ted Gioia. Gioia covers all the essential repertoire that every Jazz musician should know, from “I Got Rhythm” to “Mood Indigo.” This book also comes with a CD containing recordings of many of these tunes by some of the greatest jazz musicians of all time.

Essential Jazz: The First 100 Years

This book is a great resource for beginners who want to learn about the history of jazz. It covers the 100 most important years of jazz, from its origins in the late 1800s to the present day. The book includes a CD with 100 tracks of classic jazz performances, as well as a DVD with interviews and footage of some of the most influential jazz musicians.