Visions of Jazz: The First Century - Hardcover

"The publication of 'Visions of Jazz: The First Century' is a major event because Gary Giddins is our best jazz critic.... 'Visions of Jazz' is the finest unconventional history of jazz ever written--a brilliant, indispensable book.... Gary Giddins will simply bring you pleasure and joy. Who could ask for anything more?"--Alfred Appel Jr., The New York Times Book Review"The definitive compendium by the most interesting jazz critic now at work.... He knows his subject, his prose is interesting and graceful, his judgements are measured and fair, and the only camp of which he is a member is his own.... I find myself constantly hoping to be reaffirmed in my convictions when reading about his--which happens often enough to keep me ever curious about what he well say next. This, it seems to me, is what the relationship between critic and reader should be.... Giddins is always smart, always interesting and occasionally downright surprising.... Without laying out any grand theories, without pretense or pomposity, Giddins smoothly shifts gears and in so doing awakens one to the unexpected.... Unlike too many others inside the little world of jazz, Giddins has an expansive welcoming view of it.... Visions of Jazz is a celebration and reaffirmation of precisely that."--Jonathan Yardly, The Washington Post Book World"Visions of Jazz is Giddins' magnum opus, 690 pages of painstakingly researched devotion that reveal his remarkable catholicity of taste, or rather passion.... Giddins is that rarity, a jazz writer with a genuinely engaging literary style who ranks with other masters of this elusive craft--Otis Ferguson, Whitney Balliett and Gene Lees. He sweeps us along with a felicitous turn of phrase and trenchant wit.... A landmark destined to occupy a permanent niche on the shelf of essential jazz literature."--Grover Sales, The Los Angeles Times "The publication of 'Visions of Jazz: The First Century' is a major event because Gary Giddins is our best jazz critic.... 'Visions of Jazz' is the finest unconventional history of jazz ever written--a brilliant, indispensable book.... Gary Giddins will simply bring you pleasure and joy. Who could ask for anything more?"--Alfred Appel Jr., The New York Times Book Review "The definitive compendium by the most interesting jazz critic now at work.... He knows his subject, his prose is interesting and graceful, his judgements are measured and fair, and the only camp of which he is a member is his own.... I find myself constantly hoping to be reaffirmed in my convictions when reading about his--which happens often enough to keep me ever curious about what he well say next. This, it seems to me, is what the relationship between critic and reader should be.... Giddins is always smart, always interesting and occasionally downright surprising.... Without laying out any grand theories, without pretense or pomposity, Giddins smoothly shifts gears and in so doing awakens one to the unexpected.... Unlike too many others inside the little world of jazz, Giddins has an expansive welcoming view of it.... Visions of Jazz is a celebration and reaffirmation of precisely that."--Jonathan Yardly, The Washington Post Book World "Visions of Jazz is Giddins' magnum opus, 690 pages of painstakingly researched devotion that reveal his remarkable catholicity of taste, or rather passion.... Giddins is that rarity, a jazz writer with a genuinely engaging literary style who ranks with other masters of this elusive craft--Otis Ferguson, Whitney Balliett and Gene Lees. He sweeps us along with a felicitousturn of phrase and trenchant wit.... A landmark destined to occupy a permanent niche on the shelf of essential jazz literature."--Grover Sales, The Los Angeles Times "The publication of 'Visions of Jazz: The First Century' is a major event because Gary Giddins is our best jazz critic.... 'Visions of Jazz' is the finest unconventional history of jazz ever written--a brilliant, indispensable book.... Gary Giddins will simply bring you pleasure and joy. Who could ask for anything more?"--Alfred Appel Jr., The New York Times Book Review "The definitive compendium by the most interesting jazz critic now at work.... He knows his subject, his prose is interesting and graceful, his judgements are measured and fair, and the only camp of which he is a member is his own.... I find myself constantly hoping to be reaffirmed in my convictions when reading about his--which happens often enough to keep me ever curious about what he well say next. This, it seems to me, is what the relationship between critic and reader should be.... Giddins is always smart, always interesting and occasionally downright surprising.... Without laying out any grand theories, without pretense or pomposity, Giddins smoothly shifts gears and in so doing awakens one to the unexpected.... Unlike too many others inside the little world of jazz, Giddins has an expansive welcoming view of it.... Visions of Jazz is a celebration and reaffirmation of precisely that."--Jonathan Yardly, The Washington Post Book World "Visions of Jazz is Giddins' magnum opus, 690 pages of painstakingly researched devotion that reveal his remarkable catholicity of taste, or rather passion.... Giddins is that rarity, a jazz writer with a genuinely engaging literary style who ranks with other masters of this elusive craft--Otis Ferguson, WhitneyBalliett and Gene Lees. He sweeps us along with a felicitous turn of phrase and trenchant wit.... A landmark destined to occupy a permanent niche on the shelf of essential jazz literature."--Grover Sales, The Los Angeles Times "The publication of 'Visions of Jazz: The First Century' is a major event because Gary Giddins is our best jazz critic.... 'Visions of Jazz' is the finest unconventional history of jazz ever written--a brilliant, indispensable book.... Gary Giddins will simply bring you pleasure and joy. Who couldask for anything more?"--Alfred Appel Jr., The New York Times Book Review"The definitive compendium by the most interesting jazz critic now at work.... He knows his subject, his prose is interesting and graceful, his judgements are measured and fair, and the only camp of which he is a member is his own.... I find myself constantly hoping to be reaffirmed in myconvictions when reading about his--which happens often enough to keep me ever curious about what he well say next. This, it seems to me, is what the relationship between critic and reader should be.... Giddins is always smart, always interesting and occasionally downright surprising.... Withoutlaying out any grand theories, without pretense or pomposity, Giddins smoothly shifts gears and in so doing awakens one to the unexpected.... Unlike too many others inside the little world of jazz, Giddins has an expansive welcoming view of it.... Visions of Jazz is a celebration and reaffirmationof precisely that."--Jonathan Yardly, The Washington Post Book World"Visions of Jazz is Giddins' magnum opus, 690 pages of painstakingly researched devotion that reveal his remarkable catholicity of taste, or rather passion.... Giddins is that rarity, a jazz writer with a genuinely engaging literary style who ranks with other masters of this elusive craft--OtisFerguson, Whitney Balliett and Gene Lees. He sweeps us along witha felicitous turn of phrase and trenchant wit.... A landmark destined to occupy a permanent niche on the shelf of essential jazz literature."--Grover Sales, The Los Angeles Times

This text illuminates the lives major figures in jazz history. From Louis Armstrong's renegade style trumpet playing to Frank Sinatra's intimate crooning. The author, Giddins maintains, contrary to the opinion of most jazz enthusiasts, that Armstrongs voice was as much an integral part of creating jazz singing as his trumpet was to creating jazz. Tributes to the great jazz singers are also included. Billie Holiday profoundly impacted music history, and Giddins eloquently honours her "gutted voice, drawled phrasing, and wayworn features". Many artists, such as Irving Berlin and Rosemary Clooney, have been traditionally dismissed by fans and critics as merely popular derivatives of true jazz.