A Century of Jazz

The late 1990s marks 100 years of jazz, from the earliest reference to the New Orleans band fronted by the legendary trumpeter Buddy Bolden, the first traceable group that played what was subsequently labeled "jazz. "

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A Century of Jazz is the first-ever chronicle of the major influence in western music this century. Organized by year, style, and place, it is supplemented with special features on subjects relevant to each period. Making deliberate reference to popular music in general, where jazz has always been a strong influence, the book covers not only major jazz cult artists including Armstrong, Parker, and Coltrane, but also crossover figures such as Crosby, Glenn Miller, Sinatra, and George Benson, broadening its appeal beyond jazz connoisseurs to all music fans. A Century of Jazz is richly illustrated with a wealth of rare images and graphic material, plus the work of major jazz photographers such as Herman Leonard, Bob Willoughby, and Val Wilmer, and it includes contributions by such notable jazz writers as Fred Dellar, Brian Case, Richard Cook, and Neil Slaven. Featuring a sumptuous full-color layout and authoritative, entertaining writing, it is the definitive illustrated celebration of jazz history, jazz people, and jazz style.