The music called jazz is celebrated here, in a readable and engaging history of this unique, life-filled art form. With roots in tribal rituals of Africa and, later, drawing from the spirituals, sorrow songs, and field hollers of the enslaved blacks in the American South, the music evolved over time, incorporating traditions from blues, ragtime, European folk music and hymns, and many other sources. And through the course of its evolution, the music drew energy and personality from a long line of innovative musicians and performers.
Gene Seymour, a New York-based journalist and critic who writes often about music, theater, and popular culture, provides a full history of jazz, from its origins to the present, and with a look at where today's dynamic composers and performers might be taking the music. Seymour shows what jazz is, and reveals its vital spirit and its importance. With intriguing profiles of jazz greats, a look at the variety of jazz styles, and a list of recommended recordings, this exuberant book will fascinate both jazz novices and jazz enthusiasts.