The Jazz Standards

The Jazz Standards, a comprehensive guide to the most important jazz compositions, is at once a unique resource, a browser's companion, and an invaluable introduction to the art form. This essential book for music lovers tells the story of more than 250 key jazz songs, and includes a listening guide to more than 2,000 recordings.

Many books recommend jazz CDs or discuss musicians and styles, but this is the first work to tell the story of the songs themselves. The fan who wants to know more about a jazz song heard at a club or on the radio will find this an indispensable work. Musicians who play these songs night after night now have a handy sourcebook, outlining their history and significance and telling how they have been performed by different generations of jazz artists. Students learning about jazz standards can now consult a thorough reference work for all of these cornerstones of the repertoire.

Author Ted Gioia, whose body of work includes the award-winning The History of Jazz and Delta Blues, makes for a perfect guide to lead readers through the classics of the genre. As a jazz pianist and recording artist, he has performed these songs for decades. As a music historian and critic, he has gained a reputation as a leading expert on jazz. Here he draws on his deep experience with this music in creating the ultimate work on the subject.

An introduction for new fans, a useful handbook for jazz lovers and musicians, and an important reference for students and educators, The Jazz Standards belongs on the shelf of every serious jazz lover or musician.