In How to Listen to Jazz, award-winning music scholar Ted Gioia presents a lively, accessible introduction to the art of listening to jazz. Covering everything from the music's structure and history to the basic building blocks of improvisation, Gioia shows exactly what to listen for in a jazz performance. How does a casual listener learn to understand and appreciate the nuances between the unapologetic and innovative sounds of Louis Armstrong, the complexity of Coleman Hawkin's saxophone, and the exotic and alluring compositions of Duke Ellington? How does Thelonius Monk fit in alongside Benny Goodman and John Coltrane? He shares listening strategies that will help readers understand and appreciate the great American art form for the rest of their lives, and provides a history of the major movements in jazz right up to the present day. He concludes with a guide to 150 elite musicians who are setting the tone for 21st century jazz. Both an appreciation and an introduction to jazz by a foremost expert, How to Listen to Jazz is a must-read for anyone who's ever wanted to understand America's greatest contribution to the world of music.

About the Author
Ted Gioia is a jazz pianist and an award-winning music historian. The author of ten books, Gioia is currently a columnist for the Daily Beast.

Reviews
Mr Gioia could not have done a better job. Through him, jazz might even find new devotees. The Economist



Book Information
ISBN 9780465093496
Author Ted Gioia
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint Basic Books
Publisher Basic Books
Weight(grams) 260g
Dimensions(mm) 212mm * 135mm * 19mm