What to Listen For in Jazz
by Mr. Barry Kernfeld

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Book Reviews of What to Listen For in Jazz

Book Review: Well-written and practical
Summary: 5 Stars

Kernfeld focuses on the basics. He uses 22 landmark recordings (provided on the accompanying CD)to illustrate the points he makes. The six chapters of the book deal with rhythm, forms, arrangement, composition, improvisation and sound. In the course of reading the book, you revisit the same composition several times, each time focusing on a different excerpt from it. When Kernfeld talks about backbeats, syncopation and blue notes, he explains what he means!

This book is a must-have! (A useful accompaniment to this book -though not essential- is "How to read music" by Terry Burrows, another book/cd combination.)

Note: The accompanying CD features tracks by Miles Davis ('round midnight), Billy Holiday ( georgia on my mind), Louis Armstrong (hotter than that), Duke Ellington (ko-ko, trumpet no end), Jelly Roll Morton (black bottom stomp) and Thelonious Monk (misterioso). Others on the cd include Dizzy Gillespie, Weather report, Herbie Hancock, Sun Ra, Coleman Hawkins, Earl "Fatha" Hines and Charlie Mingus.

Summary of What to Listen For in Jazz

History & Criticism Books

• Books > Subjects > Arts & Photography > Music
• Theory, Composition & Performance