The Rough Guide to Jazz by Ian Carr, Digby Fairweather, Brian Priestley, 1858285283, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

Hmmmm.............. Nice!

This is the best jazz guide on the market. Ian Carr has an unassailable position as one of the best jazz writers in print. His biography of Miles Davis is superb and I would advise anyone who wants to appriciate the context of Miles' career and his development of musical styles to read that book, it is wonderful for existing fans and a brilliant introduction for those who do not already know his work. Here the three authors give us the opportunity to explore the world of jazz, not via a didactic single route but by giving us details and insights into a reasonably comprethensive list of jazz. It is true that these insights are not always the same for each artist nor do they necessarily offer a consistent historical context for every entry but that for me is a strength in such a book, I am also credited with the ability to do much of the exploration for myself. Musical enjoyment is after all a rather subjective process. I don't want anyone, however knowledgable, telling me in what order I should develop my musical appreciation in any genre.

It took me a long time to start seriously listening to Miles Davis, for insatnce, when I started to get into jazz about 10 years ago. There was so much written and said about him and I was being told which albums I should start with and so forth, with the result that Kind of Blue and In a Silent Way were amongst the last of his albums I bought and I do owm the vast majority of them.

So use this as a took to find your way around jazz and to make leaps from one school of jazz to another this will help develop your ear and challenge you preconceptions about what is and is not jazz. Hmmm..... nice!

Is this really true to the Rough Guide format?

I don't think it is! I've always found the Rough Guides to destinations fantastic. When visiting a new country they provide an introduction, a guide, a well-considered set of pointers to the must-see and must-do. As a new arrival in the world of jazz, this book just doesn't do that at all. It's a straight alphabetical compendium and tells you nothing about history, styles or any useful background. I'm sure it's great for a jazz-buff, but for a beginner, it's baffling. Why not the structure of say the Rough Guide to Reggae, but without that volume's lack of proof-reading?

Best Guide on the market

This is a brilliant guide. It is well written; the authours write generously and intelligently about the artists covered. They tend to dwell on positives, and focus on the quality output in an artist's career. There is none of the petty bitchiness that you often get from British hacks, or the jazz snobbery you get from many "purists". The writers have great taste, and unlike the Penguin Guide, I have only rarely been disappointed with a purchase made on their recommendation. For example, their views on Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea seem spot on. I thought I was the only person in the world who thought Arbour Zena and Three Quartets, were respective highpoints in each artists career- judging from reviews other guides. Another plus is the space given to younger musicians; and people like Zakir Hussain and Mark Isham. All in all, they have done a great service to jazz...

Could it otherwise be much better?

I can only be impressed by the work involved in getting this guide completed. Of course, there is a great deal of subjectivity involved with certain artists included who are not as important as some who have not been. But all credit to all the authors for their hard work. My copy is already heavily thumbed even after a few weeks!

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