West Coast Jazz: Modern Jazz in California, 1945-1960
by Ted Gioia
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Description
Over the last half-century, New York's preeminence in the world of jazz has been challenged only once--during the 1950s--when California emerged with a splash on the jazz scene. "West Coast jazz," as it soon became known, was a fresh new sound which stirred both controversy and excitement in equal measure. One thing, however, was certain: never before (or since) had so many jazz musicians from the Coast made such an impact on jazz. Dave Brubeck, Dexter Gordon, Art Pepper, Chet Baker, Eric show more Dolphy, Paul Desmond, Ornette Coleman, Cal Tjader, Shelly Manne, and numerous others--these figures shaped the jazz of their time and are still powerful influences today. In West Coast Jazz, Ted Gioia provides the definitive account of this rich, evocative music. Drawing on years of research and numerous first-hand interviews, Gioia tells the full story of West Coast jazz, from its early stirrings after World War II to its decline after 1960.-Book jacket. show lessTags
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A very good and much needed look at the West Coast scene of the 50s and early 60s. My one big objection is the way Gioia consistently avoids talking about the distinctiveness and commonalities between of some of the West Coast sounds in favor of an artist by artist concentration. Perhaps a needed corrective to years of common neglect, but there does seem to be something we ought to talk about as a "West Coast" approach to jazz.
It's almost too detailed to read like a normal book--it's essentially a series of enyclopedia entries. So, I enjoyed reading it, and I'll keep it as a reference, but it is not a book you read quickly.
Gioia is skilled at explaining things in ways that even people with little musical knowledge can understand.
Gioia is skilled at explaining things in ways that even people with little musical knowledge can understand.
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JAZZZZ
87 works; 1 member
Author Information
16+ Works 2,275 Members
Ted Gioia is a music historian and the author of eleven books, including How to Listen to Jazz. His three previous books on the social history of music- Work Songs, Healing Songs, and Love Songs-have each been honored with the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award. Gioia's wide-ranging activities as a critic, scholar, performer, and educator have established show more him as a leading global guide to music past, present, and future. show less
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1992
- Important places
- California, USA
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 83
- Popularity
- 382,498
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.21)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 1
