DownBeat - The Great Jazz Interviews: A 75th Anniversary Anthology
Reviews (63)
Good collection of jazz history from a great magazine
Downbeat, one of the oldest and best jazz magazines still publishing, collects a wide variety of interviews from their beginning into a volume that can be read chronologically or piecemeal. All the most important musical innovators and performers (Armstrong, Ellington, Monk, Parker et al) are here, and the writing is uniformly excellent. Numerous excellent photos from the magazine illustrate the interviews, and though the writing is aimed at veteran jazz fans, this collection would make a great introduction to "America's classical music" for newer fans, too. I had been interested in getting this since it was published, and it is great to finally have a volume I will keep handy as a future reference. Highly recommended.
Entertaining, Informative Interviews
I'm enjoying these interviews. Only wish they focused a bit more on the older, 1940s, 1950s, jazz instead of including several rock musicians.
Different authors and different levels of erudition from so the result is some great articles, some very good
This is a compendium of articles from years of DownBeat magazines. Different authors and different levels of erudition from so the result is some great articles, some very good, a few not so much. In all, though, it is a worthwhile glimpse of jazz artists from the past. It is worth reading for those who want to get a sense of the personalities of a variety of people, but don't want the in depth perspective that more fleshed out profiles would have provided. It could be labeled superficial by those expecting too much. Again it is a series of magazine articles.
Awesome Book - Great information!
I bought this for my Pop Pop who is a Jazz connoisseur (in his head) and he LOVED it. It’s rare that we get to see him smile but you can tell this book and the information with in brought back great memories for him. He shares new insights from this book with us regularly beaming with joy. Grateful for this book and the moment it created in my family.
One Criticism: There Needs to be a Volume Two!
Absolutely brilliant book. Soft bound. 310 glossy, shiny pages and photos. As big as any magazine: Vogue, Vanity Fair, Playboy, Sports Illustrated. Small font. Not divided into "chapters", but divided into decades from 1930 to present day. This is more of a reference book, source material. The "interviews" aren't really Q&A, some of it are like newspaper reports, articles, personal journals from the artist's themselves, historical background. From a few short paragraphs, a few columns to several pages in length. My one and only criticism is there isn't a volume Two or Three!
Love it! Jazz fans be buyin!!
Hard bop is the focus I'd like to see in a future Downbeat book but covering Jelly Roll to Joshua Redman makes for an educational and fun read in this edition. Highly recommended, just hoping for future editions that highlight specific eras. Put the spotlight on Miles, Mobley, Blakey and all the other kings of bop next time please I beg...
Great book! Wonderful gift idea
Beautiful book! It was a gift, and the recipient loves it. It has lots of neat facts and informative tidbits. I highly recommend as a special gift for that jazz lover who has everything!
A FINE COLLECTION OF JAZZ INTERVIEWS FROM 75 YEARS OF DOWNBEAT
Large format,soft cover,with the articles/interviews arranged in chronological order,starting in the 1930's through the 2000's. The soft cover is substantial and would hold up to some wear. There is no index,so the 350 or so pages of interviews/overviews is pretty much true. This is another fine collection of interviews/articles published in conjunction with DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE,the "bible" of jazz. The focus is on jazz artists in the DOWNBEAT Hall of Fame. Frank Alkyer-publisher,and Ed Enright-editor of DOWNBEAT have chosen wisely for this 75th anniversary publication. While some long-time readers of the magazine,or jazz listeners may quibble over the omission of a favorite artist/artists,the many featured musicians in this book give a fine overview of both jazz from it's (arguable beginning),and as a history of DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE. Following the publication,in conjunction with DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE,of the fine "The Miles Davis Reader",a number of years ago,this collection takes in most of the greatest names in jazz,past and present. While many more musicians could have been included,the artists here form a solid foundation of jazz. From jazz's beginnings,featured artists such as W.C. Handy,Louis Armstrong,Jelly Roll Morton,Duke Ellington (1930's),through Woody Herman,Glenn Miller, Billie Holiday, T-Bone Walker,Stan Kenton,Lester Young,Dizzy Gillespie,Charlie Parker (1940's),into the 1950's with Les Paul,Chet Baker,Lennie Tristano,Oscar Peterson,John Coltrane,Roy Eldridge,to Joe Williams,Ornette Coleman,Paul Desmond,Bill Evans,Art Tatum,Ella Fitzgerald,Thelonious Monk,Miles Davis,Muddy Waters (1960's),to "Cannonball" Adderley,Roland Kirk,Charles Mingus,Tom Waits,Frank Zappa,WEATHER REPORT,Stevie Wonder (1970's),to Freddie Hubbard,Brian Eno,Tony Williams,Keith Jarrett,Carla Bley,Henry Threadgill,Carlos Santana (1980,s),to Joe Henderson,Stephane Grapelli,Joshua Redman,Van Morrison,Joni Mitchell,Betty Carter,Steve Lacy (1990's),through Tony Bennett,Hank Jones,Dave Brubeck,James Brown (2000's),and many,many more,together present the history of jazz. The many black and white (and few color) photographs,many not seen for years,adds depth and emphasis to the thoughts of these artists. Sprinkled throughout are (small) color reproductions of DOWNBEAT covers from various years. The opinions on jazz in the articles and a few "Blindfold Tests",(different from the interviews),by musicians from the period,are interesting and attest to the aches and pains jazz went through (and is still going through),with a number of dissenting opinions and criticisms (read both 60's articles by "Cannonball" Adderley and Charles Mingus concerning Ornette Coleman as an example) on the course and future of jazz. This is a book that could sit on anyone's jazz shelf. For someone new to jazz,there's much information which would lead to some great jazz listening. For the long-time jazz listener/reader,this book is a compendium of jazz history,in chronological order,which reinforces why we listen to jazz in the first place. DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE has done a fine job delving into it's vast archives,something they alone are uniquely qualified to do. In bringing together the history of a true American musical genre,through the thoughts of the very musicians who created (and are still creating) so much fine music,into one collection,is certainly a worthwhile endeavor. DOWNBEAT has done it.
Worth every dime, large book beautiful pictures
Paid as gift for 18 yr old who is in college for music JAZZ is his life. He loved it I wanted to keep for myself. Bound nicely pages are awesome and the information in these artist is fun seems informative. Great to display
Beautiful book.
Bought as a gift for a friend. It is a beautiful coffee table quality book with historical photos of the jazz greats of the past.
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