A listener's guide to jazz retraces the history of the music, from earliest recordings to the Depression, profiling the people and events behind this truly American art form in a collection of essays, reviews, profiles, and more. Original.

"Floyd Levin's half-century collection of reportage, reviews and recollections are an irreplaceable and totally enjoyable trove of writing about the vibrancy, past and still-present, of traditional American jazz."—Charles Champlin, author of Back There Where the Past Was "I've known Floyd and his wife Lucille for more than fifty years. Floyd's book is a colorful, intimate account of his lifelong love affair with jazz. I'm especially fascinated when he writes about his personal encounters with some of the jazz legends of the Century. This book is essential reading for anyone concerned about jazz - its present, its past, and his evolution."—Milt Hinton "Floyd Levin's dedicated and unselfish life-long work for the cause of jazz has illuminated many a corner that would otherwise have remained in the dark. All who care about the music are in his debt. Classic Jazz, like Floyd himself, is a classic."—Dan Morgenstern, Director, Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University "What a rich, passionate and human book this is! Drawing on fifty years of devotion to classic, New Orleans jazz and the artists who performed it, Floyd Levin brilliantly weaves anecdotal material, primary research, intimate personal observations, and analyses to create an historical goldmine of the music's evolution in New Orleans and on the West Coast. In rendering portraits of legendary musicians in such a beautifully moving, honest way, he offers not just standard history, but a strong sense of the emotional core of the music as well."—Steve Isoardi, co-author of Central Avenue Sounds

This original music for solo and duo guitar features beautiful melodies and convenient fingering and is very easy to perform. the author's comments explain how to move from classical style to jazz. the pieces, divided into two chapters, Etudes and Pieces, are written in different jazz styles: Swing, Bossa Nova, and Blues. Their melodies are perfect and their harmonies refined. Seven duets are included which may be played either by two guitars or by guitar and a melody instrument. They have fine melodies and are easy to perform. the first part can be played by the beginner. These duets can be used in teaching situations with teacher and student playing together. Written in notation only.

(Jazz Piano Solos). This cool collection features 24 film classics arranged in a jazzy style, including: Alfie * As Time Goes By * Call Me Irresponsible * Come Rain or Come Shine * Days of Wine and Roses * Easy Living * It Had to Be You * Pure Imagination * Smile * Stella by Starlight * The Way You Look Tonight * You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To * and many more. Includes chord symbols.

Jazz: America's Classical Music is a delightful introduction and guide to this complex and compelling music and to its rich history. In an engaging and conversational style, renowned jazz teacher Grover Sales tells of the lives and music of the greats—Ellington, Tatum, Hawkins, Coltrane, Parker, Hines, Goodman, Armstrong, and many others—with a mix of important facts, fascinating anecdotes, and brilliant interpretations. Illustrated with astonishing photographs of the artists in performance, Jazz: America's Classical Music is a classic text, an ideal book for beginners and an inspiring one for serious students of the art of jazz.

Up-close and revealing interviews with 47 musicians and jazz advocates that can only broaden a jazz fan's understanding and appreciation of what is happening on the bandstand.