A collection of essays, biographical profiles, and critical analyses by one of the twentieth century's leading jazz writers includes commentary on the work of jazz entertainers and an assessment of the role of jazz in contemporary culture and its influence on modern music.

"In the 1950s and '60s, co-operative jazz clubs opened in response to new forms of jazz expression emerging after the war and a lack of performance spaces outside major urban centres. Operated by the musicians themselves, these hip new clubs created spaces where jazz musicians practised their art. Live at the Cellar looks at this unique period in the development of jazz in Canada. Centered on Vancouver's legendary Cellar club, it explores the ways...

Fatherless Katherine carries the stigma of her mixed-race background through an era that is hostile to her and all she represents. Orphaned Mahsa also grows up in the shadow of loss, sent to relatives in Pakistan after the death of her parents. When Katherine and Mahsa meet, they find in each other a kindred spirit as well as a musical equal, and their lives are changed irrevocably. Together they inspire and support one another, fusing together their...

In London, 1925, jazz musicians Ivor 'Skins' Maloney and Bartholomew 'Barty' Dunn, along with Skins's wife Ellie, must solve the mystery of the diamonds allegedly hidden at the private members' club where their band, Dizzy Heights, have a residency, unmask a murderer, and prevent more deadly crimes--all without missing a beat.

"The long-awaited memoir by one of the most influential and beloved musicians of our time. In Herbie Hancock the legendary jazz musician and composer reflects on a thriving career that has spanned seven decades. A true innovator, Hancock has had an enormous influence on both acoustic and electric jazz, R&B and hip-hop, with his ongoing exploration of different musical genres, winning fourteen Grammy awards along the way. From his beginnings as a child...

A guide to two musical styles that have fundamentally influenced popular music. It contains a section on Styles, which covers jazz styles from Ragtime to Bebop and blues styles from Texas Blues to Rhythm and Blues.

Sonny Rollins has long been considered an enigma. Known as the "Saxophone Colossus," he is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz improvisers of all time, winning Grammys, the Austrian Cross of Honor, Sweden's Polar Music Prize and a National Medal of Arts. A bridge from bebop to the avant-garde, he is a lasting link to the golden age of jazz, pictured in the iconic "Great Day in Harlem" portrait. His seven-decade career has been well documented,...