| Share page | Visit Us On FB |
|
FOREWORD |
||
|
I have tried in this book to hand out a simple compass and sketch-map to those who are crossing, for the first time, over the frontier into jazz-land.
It isn't an elaborate tourist guide, telling you exactly where you must go and what you should see. In Jazz, I believe, the most one can genuinely do for people is to help them find their own way about.
The story of jazz is a pattern of colourful, unpredictable individuals. There are as many views about it as there are jazz-lovers. Many readers will disagree with the plan on which this book is laid out, and on the varying degrees of emphasis given to the varying phases of the jazz story. I can only say in defence: "That's the way I see it—and I have given readers information to guide them to many other authorities on jazz who will give them other aspects of the picture."
I have tried throughout the book to stress the importance of listening to jazz as much as you can and forming your own judgment about what you hear. A book that lays down strict "rules" of jazz, or compiles lists of stereotyped jazz phrases and "breaks" for its readers to copy, is not really a jazz book at all (though it may be a short-cut to unenterprising dance-band playing).
Those who are beginning to know their way around in jazz-land should progress to the excellent specialist
v |
||