Author Description
Jazz Makers gathers together short biographies of more than 50 of jazz's greatest stars, from its early beginnings to the present. The stories of these innovative instrumentalists, bandleaders, and composers reveal the fascinating history of jazz in six parts: * The Pioneers, including Scott Joplin, Louis Armstrong, and Bessie Smith * Swing Bands and Soloists, with Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday * The Piano Giants, featuring Fats Waller, Art Tatum, and Mary Lou Williams * Birth of Bebop, including Dizzy Gillepsie, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis * Cool Jazz, Hard Bop, and Fusion, with John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Stan Getz * A Century of Jazz, featuring Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, and other contemporary greats.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This volume investigates the evolution of jazz through the lives and contributions of its most influential practitioners. Alyn Shipton, a noted jazz historian and critic, utilizes biographical sketches to trace the development of the genre from its nascent stages to contemporary iterations. The text organizes these figures into thematic and chronological categories to illustrate how individual innovation shaped the broader trajectory of jazz music.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Biographical profiles of over 50 prominent jazz musicians, bandleaders, and composers.
- A chronological framework divided into six distinct eras of jazz history.
- Contextual analysis linking individual stylistic developments to the broader history of the genre.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide exhaustive discographies for every artist included.
- It does not offer deep technical musicological analysis of specific compositions.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Critics and educators frequently cite this work as a reliable introductory resource for students and enthusiasts seeking a structured overview of jazz history. Readers often note that the prose is accessible while maintaining a high standard of historical accuracy.
Page Count:
269
Publication Date:
2002-01-01
ISBN-10:
0190284420
ISBN-13:
9780190284428
Biography
Music
History
English
Musicians
English & College Success
MUSICOLOGY
Reference
Jazz