Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz

Rating:
Summary: The standard
Review: This book is the standard by which other histories of Jazz are to be judged. The history is related without bias, but with flavor, both completely and with sufficient detail.

The history is presented with insight into the future implications each musical "invention" would bear on its progeny. You get the feeling that the authors were "there" when the music evolved, giving it a realistic and even authoritative feel. You trust this book.

This book complements Porter's "Jazz: its origins to the present" well, as it is often referenced in that book. It makes them an ideal pair. While the tone and emphasis are slightly different, the subject matter is the same, he rich and diverse history of jazz.

It is no wonder that other books on Jazz site this book as the definitive source on the subject. Thumbs up for a classic work.