EARLY JAZZ: ITS ROOTS AND MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT.
BY GUNTHER SCHULLER

DESCRIPTION:
EARLY JAZZ IS ONE OF THE SEMINAL BOOKS ON AMERICAN JAZZ, RANGING FROM THE BEGINNINGS OF JAZZ AS A DISTINCT MUSICAL STYLE AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY TO ITS FIRST GREAT FLOWERING IN THE 1930S. SCHULLER EXPLORES THE MUSIC OF THE GREAT JAZZ SOLOISTS OF THE TWENTIESJELLY ROLL MORTON, BIX BEIDERBECKE, BESSIE SMITH, LOUIS ARMSTRONG, AND OTHERSAND THE BIG BANDS AND ARRANGERSFLETCHER HENDERSON, BENNIE MOTEN, AND ESPECIALLY DUKE ELLINGTONPLACING THEIR MUSIC IN THE CONTEXT OF THE OTHER MUSICAL CULTURES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY AND OFFERING ANALYSES OF MANY GREAT JAZZ RECORDINGS. EARLY JAZZ PROVIDES A MUSICAL TOUR OF THE EARLY AMERICAN JAZZ WORLD. A CLASSIC STUDY, IT IS BOTH A SPLENDID INTRODUCTION FOR STUDENTS AND AN INSIGHTFUL GUIDE FOR SCHOLARS, MUSICIANS, AND JAZZ AFICIONADOS.