This collection investigates the distinct personalities and musical contributions of nineteen influential jazz figures to capture the essence of the genre's evolution. Whitney Balliett, a long-time contributor to The New Yorker, utilizes his extensive experience as a music critic to profile both legendary and lesser-known musicians. By blending biographical detail with technical musical analysis, he constructs a framework that attempts to translate the auditory experience of jazz into written prose.

Experts and jazz enthusiasts frequently cite Balliett as a premier chronicler of the genre due to his unique ability to evoke the sound of music through text. Readers often note the lyrical quality of his prose, which balances technical observation with accessible storytelling.