All That Jazz!

Jack Wheaton has provided an exhaustive and enlightening work designed to help nonmusicians understand and appreciate the excitement, originality, and historical significance of jazz. Through the study of this inspiring material, students should not only learn a great deal about America, about black Americans, and about contemporary art and music, but also a little bit about themselves.

The book is divided into three parts. The first part provides historical background on the development of Afro-American music, examining, in particular, contributions from Africa, western Europe, and the United States. It examines the evolution of jazz in relation to its development as a folk art, commercial art, and fine art. The second part of the book is aimed at the development of listening skills. It explores rhythm, its importance to jazz, and what differentiates the rhythmic devices of jazz and classical music; explains the role of blue notes in jazz compositions; and defines improvisation and its different approaches. The third part deals with the relationships between aesthetics, technological advances, and social changes in this country and how they have affected jazz. Throughout the text Wheaton also offers many extra features€"-a New Orleans Parade, Jazz on Film, Jazz Festivals€"-that richly complement the material discussed. Also included are extensive lists of jazz musicians and groups€"-blues singers, big bands, bop musicians€"-to familiarize the student with some of the important names associated with jazz.

Each chapter contains listening assignments that guide the student to an understanding and appreciation of the era, the style, the performer, or the instrument under discussion. A summary follows each chapter, as well as questions for review and discussion, topics for further research, suggestions for further reading and listening, and a listing of films and videos relevant to the chapter. Other useful features include margin definitions, an extensive glossary, numerous illustrations, a detailed chron