Free jazz was a much misunderstood – and even maligned – genre when it emerged in the late 50s, but it resulted in some of the finest modern jazz.
From country to rock, jazz to hip-hop, these personas embody a specific moment in an artist’s development.
Far from an exhaustive list of the best jazz books of all time, these are 20 essential title for newcomers and long-term aficionados to seek out.
There have been hundreds of thousands of books about music and here are some of the best music books you’ve may never have read.
Named ‘San Jose’s Ambassador of Jazz,’ Gale performed with Sun Ra, Larry Young, and Cecil Taylor, before recording as a bandleader on Blue Note.
Produced by the late Hal Willner, ‘Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films’ remains a spellbinding listen.
Lying somewhere on the spectrum between avant-garde jazz and free jazz, astral jazz represented one of the most experimental periods in jazz’s history.
