Richard Cook’s Jazz Encyclopedia is not merely an A-Z guide to the artists and bands who have shaped jazz, but it also tracks the history of jazz and its changing styles. This is a wonderfully accessible work. Richard Cook's passion for jazz and his strongly held opinions make this the liveliest and most trenchantly witty encyclopedia you'll have read. Whether you're trying to find out why Louis Armstrong was called Satchmo (his nickname as a kid was Satchelmouth), what bebop is, or the difference between Gil Evans and Bill Evans – this book has all the answers.
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Cook lives and breathes jazz as a writer and as a dedicated listener. -- Wired, 1st December, 2005
Unimpeachable... erudite, lively and up-to-date -- The Independent, 2 December, 2005 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Unimpeachable... erudite, lively and up-to-date -- The Independent, 2 December, 2005 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Richard Cook has been writing about music since the 1970s: he has contributed to the NME, Wire (he was their editor for seven years) and the Sunday Times, and is co-author of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. He has also been a record industry executive and is a regular broadcaster.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Jl Adcock
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Richard Cook knows more than a thing or two about jazz - he also writes about it incredibly clearly, and with humour. Here at last is a jazz encylopedia small enough to lift off the shelf without fear of doing yourself damage - but packed with enough information and pithy write-ups to keep you dipping into it regularly. Cook doesn't hold back on his own views of various musicians, so don't necessarily expect your favourite artist to get away scott-free if he doesn't rate them. An excellent companion book to the Penguin guide to Jazz that Cook has co-written with Brian Morton. Fresh, witty, cleanly laid-out and not trying to cram everything in - who could want more from a music reference book?
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Jazzrook
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia is remarkably comprehensive and one of the best biographical jazz reference books I've come across.
My only minor complaint is the omission of an entry for the late, perceptive jazz writer and broadcaster, Charles Fox. Unusually, for a critic, he was well respected by musicians and his superb, long running 'Jazz Today' programme on Radio 3 was very influential. Charles contributed enormously to jazz appreciation in Britain and, hopefully, he will be included in the next edition.
Apart from that I'd thoroughly recommend this wide-ranging encyclopedia which should be an essential part of any jazz library.
My only minor complaint is the omission of an entry for the late, perceptive jazz writer and broadcaster, Charles Fox. Unusually, for a critic, he was well respected by musicians and his superb, long running 'Jazz Today' programme on Radio 3 was very influential. Charles contributed enormously to jazz appreciation in Britain and, hopefully, he will be included in the next edition.
Apart from that I'd thoroughly recommend this wide-ranging encyclopedia which should be an essential part of any jazz library.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Grahame
Format:Hardcover
In many ways this is a great book. It's scope certainly matches it's title. There are potted biographies for a huge number of musicians and groups. The author doesn't pull his punches in his critiques. There's one recording mentioned for each of these entries. There are also entries on terminology / jargon, venues, festivals, writers and record labels. I bought it as a reference book but have spent happy hours just dipping into it at random. Additionally it's a useful companion to The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD which Richard co-authored.
It is of course impossible to include every notable jazz musician in a volume that's affordable and will fit on a bookshelf but the author acknowledges this in the introduction.
I've only given 4 stars because I think some opportunities have been missed. A few words about each recommended recording would be helpful for those without The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. There are too few mentions of the style that the musicians play in. Finally indexes sorted by date, style and instrument would be invaluable.
Even with these omissions I'm sure my copy will get very heavy use.
It is of course impossible to include every notable jazz musician in a volume that's affordable and will fit on a bookshelf but the author acknowledges this in the introduction.
I've only given 4 stars because I think some opportunities have been missed. A few words about each recommended recording would be helpful for those without The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. There are too few mentions of the style that the musicians play in. Finally indexes sorted by date, style and instrument would be invaluable.
Even with these omissions I'm sure my copy will get very heavy use.
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