New Dutch Swing

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Summary: New Dutch Swing by Kevin Whitehead
Review: Kevin Whitehead's New Dutch Swing is a tour de force of jazz scene writing, readily accessible to the cognescenti and the casual alike. Having immersed himself in the Amsterdam jazz community for several years, Whitehead transports us across the pond and deposits us in smoky Dutch clubs where some of the world's most creative music swirls around our heads. His depictions of the characters are especially good, and after a page or two the performers come alive as people, not just as musicians. Drawing on his extensive knowledge as a (sometimes controversial) jazz critic, Whitehead puts the vibrant Dutch improv scene into global perspective. Excellent reading; highly recommended.

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Summary: A Labor of Love
Review: This book was clearly a labor of love for the author. "New Dutch Swing," paints a detailed picture of a "Music Scene," using history, interviews, biography, culture, and geography to enlighten and excite the reader. I began this book feeling as though I knew very little. Upon completion, I feel like an authority. How much more successful can a book be? No chiaroscuro here!

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Summary: A must for jazz lovers...
Review: This encyclopedic work about jazz in Holland will appeal to a wider readership than the title would ever suggest. Written with a novelist's eye for fine detail, and an appreciative ear for the rich nuances of jazz, Whitehead's book is a classic that belongs in every music-lover's library. One of the striking aspects of the book is the way Whitehead allows the musicians to speak for themselves - which is illuminating, and gives the book an accessibility for anyone interested in the creative process of music. Excellent book.