The Penguin Jazz Guide

Sep 30, 2024 3:34 PM

Author:Brian Morton,Richard Cook

The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings is firmly established as the world's leading guide to recorded jazz, a mine of fascinating information and a source of insightful - often wittily trenchant - criticism. This is something rather different: Brian Morton (who taught American history at UEA) has picked out the 1000 best recordings that all jazz fans should have and shows how they tell the history of the music and with it the history of the twentieth century. He has completely revised his and Richard Cook's entries and reassessed each artist's entry for this book. The result is an endlessly browsable companion that will prove required reading for aficionados and jazz novices alike.

'It's the kind of book that you'll yank off the shelf to look up a quick fact and still be reading two hours later' Fortune

'Part jazz history, part jazz Karma Sutra with Cook and Morton as the knowledgeable, urbane, wise and witty guides ... This is one of the great books of recorded jazz; the other guides don't come close' Irish Times

Reviews

Sepulchre... is a much quieter and more intimate release than the four that it follows, yet it boasts every bit as much horror and spectacle... Tom Baker is as commanding as ever

—— doctorwhoreviews.co.uk

A beautifully written and very funny account of how a normal but very talented bloke who loves TV, comedy and films ended up a huge TV, comedy and film star. Truly heartwarming stuff

—— heat

An enjoyable romp through Pegg's first stabs at comedy and theatre. And for fans of Spaced, his rant at George Lucas for messing up his Star Wars legacy will be worth the cover price alone

—— News of the World

Extremely funny ... As charming as the man himself!

—— Grazia

Fascinating ... an enjoyable read

—— Observer

A gleeful autobiography written with real wit and verve

—— Shortlist

Definitive.

—— Under the Radar

The myth-making that surrounds the memory of Bob Marley has largely obscured the contribution of his fellow Wailers, Neville "Bunny" Livingston (later Bunny Wailer) and Peter Tosh. I and I restores these two to their rightful position

—— New Statesman

Grant...is skilled at peeling away layers of history

—— Observer

There are illuminating details and fresh revelations

—— Independent

This intelligent study...offers something more than the usual story of rags-to-riches and ganja-fuelled Rasta-speak. This book is full of...insights and revelations

—— James Ferguson , Times Literary Supplement

The three pillars - Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer - occupy equal roles in this illuminating study from the cross-roads of music and society

—— Boyd Tonkin , Independent, Books of the Year

Utterly riveting

—— Rob Fitzpatrick , Sunday Times

Vivid biography...This brilliant book is not just about Jamaica, but also about ourselves, no longer the country of The King's Speech but a post-imperial nation, many of whose citizens have a buried history of slavery

—— Maggie Gee , Guardian

Masterful biography...It is utterly riveting, taking in, as it does, true crime, West African folk magic and deeply corrupt politics

—— Rob Fitzpatrick , Sunday Times

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