Good music remains good of course whatever century it gets written in, but for a tradition to stay healthy, and to continue throwing up artists of vitality it must keep expanding its boundaries. Charles Fox from the chapter on Gil Evans 

{HISTORY}

Inspired by the legacy left behind by Charlie Parker, These Jazzmen of Our Time, published in 1959 explores essays on sixteen influential jazz musicians of the 1950s and how their specific style of music has influenced the jazz genre as a whole. 

Through interviews with the musicians themselves, in-depth research into the contemporary history of jazz music, and a journalistic approach to discovering the driving forces behind the music of the era, this book is a fascinating look at the men who made jazz so popular in the mid-20th century.  Each chapter represents a different musician and is written by a series of different industry critics, experts, and/or authors. 

The book opens at a jazz club in Paris with Raymond Horricks writing about Thelonious Monk. This essay weaves it way through cabarets and festivals, through conversations with other artists and through musings of Raymond's own account trying to get a handle on Thelonoius' style, his mystique and the driving forces that made his music his own. Other writers approach their chosen musicians in different ways, making this a highly unique and personable exploration of man and music from many different perspectives.

Musicians include Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Max Roach, J.J Johnson, Gerry Mulligan, Bud Powell, and Quincy Jones along with a host of other midcentury favorites. Included with each essay is a black-and-white portrait of the corresponding musician photographed by Herman Leonard.  

Fun for any jazz enthusiast, this book provides an interesting glimpse into the midcentury music scene and the giants that made it great. Two gift inscriptions on the front endpaper from two different previous owners add a deeper layer of intimacy and affection for the topic at hand. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Published in 1959 by Victor Gollancz, London 

- 236 pages

- Black and white portraits of each musician are located throughout the book

- Includes the original dust jacket 

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. The dust jacket is wholly intact but bears a little bit of chippiness along the top and bottom edges. The red coverboards are clean and bright. Two gift inscriptions both written in pen fill the inside front end paper. All interior pages are clean, bright, and free of markings and notations. The spine is tight and all pages are intact.

 {SIZE}

Measures 8." inches (length) x 5.5" inches (width) x 1" inch (thickness) and weighs 11oz.

{MAKE A JAZZ NIGHT OUT OF IT}

Grab a cocktail, sit back, relax, and take in the vintage sounds of the musicians featured here on our newly created playlist, Jazzman.