The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780199937394)

The Jazz Standards, a comprehensive guide to the most important jazz compositions, is a unique resource, a browser's companion, and an invaluable introduction to the art form. This essential book for music lovers tells the story of more than 250 key jazz songs, and includes a listening guide to more than 2,000 recordings.

Many books recommend jazz CDs or discuss musicians and styles, but this is the first to tell the story of the songs themselves. The fan who wants to know more about a jazz song heard at the club or on the radio will find this book indispensable. Musicians who play these songs night after night now have a handy guide, outlining their history and significance and telling how they have been performed by different generations of jazz artists. Students learning about jazz standards now have a complete reference work for all of these cornerstones of the repertoire.

Author Ted Gioia, whose body of work includes the award-winning The History of Jazz and Delta Blues, is the perfect guide to lead readers through the classics of the genre. As a jazz pianist and recording artist, he has performed these songs for decades. As a music historian and critic, he has gained a reputation as a leading expert on jazz. Here he draws on his deep experience with this music in creating the ultimate work on the subject.

An introduction for new fans, a useful handbook for jazz enthusiasts and performers, and an important reference for students and educators, The Jazz Standards belongs on the shelf of every serious jazz lover or musician.

Author: Ted Gioia
ISBN-10: 0199937397
ISBN-13: 9780199937394
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Language: English
Published: 07/06/2012
Pages: 544
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.80lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.30w x 1.80d

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 04/16/2012 pg. 52
Choice 01/01/2013