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Customer Reviews (3)

American Classic
I second everything Frank Cullen says about this book. I first read it over thirty years ago, acquiring my own copy some years later. Not only is it a great book on American show business,it makes great reading for anyone interested in all facets of New World music and dance culture. I frequently reccomend this book to fans of American music in general, be it jazz, blues, rock 'n' roll, country, Latin etc. etc. After reading the Stearns' wonderful book, one sees that, no matter how well-versed in the musical lore of the Americas one is, it is all a bit two-dimensional without the perspective offered by 'Jazz Dance'.

Best book about American vernacular dance ever written
There is no other dance book on the market (and thank heavens that this one has remained available since it was first published in 1968) that is as useful, delightful to read or as authoratative as Marshall & Jean Stearn's "Jazz Dance". Indeed, it is, in my opinion, one of the best books ever written about any facet of show business.
Vernacular dance in 20th century America wasn't represented or devised solely by a handful of the best remembered: Vernon & Irene Castle, Bill Robinson, Fred & Ginger, Eleanor Powell, Hal Le Roy, the Nicholas Brothers, Gene Kelly, Ann Miller, Donald O'Connor and Bob Fosse.
From the age of variety saloons and minstrelsy through a century of vaudeville and nightclubs, there were hundreds of dancers, black and white, female and male, who contributed to the development of American vernacular (or jazz) dance. Hoofers invented, borrowed, stole and adapted rhythm steps, jumps, slides, contortions and even style from each other---and American dance became richer for their efforts.
Marshall Stearns understood that. Instead of choosing to write about the best known dancers of his day, the ones blessed by luck, Stearns took on the nearly impossible task of interviewing every dancer of ability he could locate. Some like King Rastus Brown, Ginger Wiggins and Groundhog were remarkable talents known only by a very few--most of whom were other dancers who held them in high esteem. Others like John Bubbles, Ida Forsythe, James Barton, Pete Nugent, Eddie Rector, Alice Whitman, Willie Covan and Harlan Dixon were peerless dancers of their day but forgotten despite years of stardom. Mr. Stearns brought more than a hundred fine hoofers to tell their stories to readers and dance enthusiasts.
Stearns wove those stories together without forcing themes and, within the warp and woof of his narrative, emerged bits of social history and showbiz lore, explanations of certain dance steps, claims and counter-claims as to origins and originality, faulty recollections and all but forgotten gems of clearly remembered facts.
Many reputations emerged brightly restored in luster while others, perhaps more famous, proved less admired by professionals who had more discerning views than fans with less knowledge of dance.
Whenever I need to check a fact about vernacular dance--jazz dance or tap--I turn first to Marshall Stearn's invaluable book.
Frank Cullen
founder, American Vaudeville Museum publisher of "Vaudeville Times"
author: "Vaudeville, Old & New: an Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America" (2006, Routledge Press)

trivia, not how-to
Want to know what the "buck and wing" looks like?The "black bottom," "shorty george," "eagle rock" or "Jersey bounce"?Well, if you can read Labanotation, you canfind out from the last pages of this book.Otherwise, you'll just have tosettle for a bunch of dance history and anecdotes strung together by theStearns, who interviewed as many American jazz dancers as they could stillfind alive.

It's fascinating stuff, though.The text does give somelimited descriptions, and opening the book to a random page reveals both" . . .Crawley danced while he played clarinet, juggling the pieces ashe dismantled it" and "As performed by Little Egypt at theChicago World's Fair in 1893, where it first received national attention asthe Hootchy-Kootchy, the Shake dance was not particularly rhythmic."

As an actual history of American dance, for me this book lackscoherence.But I did learn about ways in which African dance influencedAmerican, see the names of quite a lot of performers, steps, andperformance venues, and learn to play the "Buck Dancer's Lament"on the piano.If you want something you can read a page of and then putdown until later, this will fill the bill. ... Read more

Product Description
In an accessible, easy-to-read style, this text provides students with well-illustrated descriptions of all basic jazz steps and movements, including valuable information on alignment, improvisation, injury prevention, nutrition and fitness, and history of jazz dance. Throughout the text, "Movement Tips" boxes help students with particularly challenging movements, and "Precaution" boxes help students utilize correct techniques to avoid injury. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Good information, bad pictures
The information in this book is good and helpful, but the cartoon pictures are terrible. It would have been much better with real photographs.

Get up and DANCE!
I really do think it would be possible for a moderately to not at all agile reader to use this book to teach him/herself jazz dance.It covers all the basic moves, with very detailed diagrams and instructions.If you don't have the means or the access to take a jazz class, this is the book for you!It'll get you off the couch, show you how to express yourself through dance, and you'll be doing it correctly, without hurting yourself.

For someone who is hesitating before taking a dance class for fear of looking foolish, get this book and be bold!If you're going to go down--go down in flames! (And it won't kill you. Really!)Dancing is one of the purest joys in life, and this book makes it accessible to everyone.

Such a great book
This is one of the best books on dance written. It clearly explains everything. It has sections on injuries, warm-ups, history, etc. It also has sheets in the back where you can track flexability, eating habits etc. I recommend it to every high school and college dance student.

Very Informative!
This is a very informative book!Tons of practical information and a detailed and interesting history of jazz dance.

Very good for both students and teachers
It's easy to read and the structure is logical. Both picture and text describes the movement and how it should be executed. It's good for both the student and the teacher, and contains beside the descriptions of movements the basic of jazzhistory, music theory, stretch and a lot more. It's a good book. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

The Real Jazz!
This book explains very clearly the warm up exercises of the Luigi technique. This technique allows you to dance Jazz from the inside, what you learn here can be applied to ballet, modern dance, or any other technique plus to your daily life.The pictures and explanations are easy to understand, but it requires time to learn each exercise. If you have been in a Luigi class before this book will help you remember the exercises.

luigi revisited
Very nice and interesting book on Jazz technique and its basis...

easy to read et to follow...

A must for any jazz teacher!

Dany - www.crescendo-danse.ch

Aesthetically and medically correct
Luigi is a miracle.His dance technique grew out of his self-rehabilitation from a paralysis caused by head trauma.The injury forced him to discover how to stand, walk, and dance with perfect balance and alignment...or he wouldn't have been able to stand, walk, or dance at all.That knowledge has been refined into a jazz dance technique that is CORRECT.It won't hurt the body, and it will actually heal many muscle and joint problems.And it looks absolutely beautiful!This book does an excellent job of explaining not only Luigi's technique, but also Luigi's philosophy that underlies the technique.It should be in the library of every dancer, and of anyone interested in proper body alignment and movement.

Easy to follow, splendid jazz training system
As a former dancer, now teacher and choreographer, I have been dancing and teaching Luigi's style for many years(without reading his book). I was taught by an amarican dancer, so when I recently read the book, I was surprised how well known the exercisesand not less Luigi's philosophy was to me. The book is a perfect way to learn jazz, diff. steps (lots of small photographs) and not to forget his brilliant idea:"take the barre with you" out on the floor. The most complete jazz system I've ever trained.
The book is easy read, easy to follow even for beginners, and not to forget - a perfect way to get strong,long and smooth muscles. I can only recommend the book - a fine supplement to related books and videos.

A great book for those interested in dance
I thought this book was great!Luigi's personal and professional story is truly inspirational.All aspects of this book was well written.I found the content of this book a tremendous help.Ihighly recommend it tothose such as myself who have never taken a dance class, but are interestedin signing up for class and need to prepare in advance for flexibility,strength, etc.The book is easy to follow; the photographs give plenty ofvisual detail and the descriptions are specifically written to be easilyfollowed by a novice.The exercises in this book condition the bodywonderfully in preparation for dance. ... Read more

Product Description
FROM JAZZ FUNK & FUSION TO ACID JAZZ: The History Of The UK Jazz Dance Sceneby Mark ‘Snowboy’ Cotgrove(Chaser Publications)From UK Soul Weekenders to Tokyo Jazz Dance sessions, Mark ‘Snowboy’ Cotgrove’s forthcoming book, From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz: The History Of The UK Jazz Dance Scene has already acquired a mythical status.'Foreward' by Professor Robert Farris Thompson of Yale University. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Black music, clubbing and UK street-style Jazz-dance... from the 70s to the 90s
After checking Snowboy's book signing at Gilles Peterson's legendary annual club session - Talking Loud & Saying Something - before Xmas I couldn't resist collecting together a bunch of quotes from the reviews of 'From Jazz Funk and Fusion to Acid Jazz..." and popping them up on Amazon. As Professor Robert Farris Thomson says, "This book is a classic..." and we felt that music loving Amazon regulars in the USA would appreciate some kind of overview.

If you are interested in the unique impact of African American music... soul,funk,fusion, Latin & Brazilian jazz and JAZZ... on club culture in the UK, between the early Seventies and mid Nineties, this book tells that story. This a story about mostly Afro Caribbean youth and their white working class counterparts and how they created a slew of wikkid combative and fluid dance styles to deal with the rhythmic complexities of tunes like Lonnie Liston Smith's 'Expansions',Michel Legrand's 'Southern Routes',Art Blakey's 'The Feast',Byron Morris' 'Kitty Bey',Jane Cortez's 'I Saw Chano Pozo', Flora Purim's 'Vera Cruz', Janet Lawson's 'So High', McCoy Tyner's 'Love Samba', Herbie Hancock's 'Shiftless Shuffle',Jon Lucien's 'Listen Love', Fela's ' Water No Get Enemy', Sivuca's 'Aint No Sunshine... phew, the list goes on and the charts at the back of this book will have you freaking out! Believe!.

This scene spread to the US via Giant Step in NYC who brought us artists like Groove Collective and Dana Bryant before giving us the ground breaking hip hop-jazz collisions that were Red Hot & Cool. It found kindred spirits in labels like the West Coast's Ubiquity Records and with DJ/producers like Master At Work, Joaquin Claussell, Ron Trent,Carlos Nino,Carl Craig et al.

So, here are a few quotes from DJs, broadcasters, music critics, academics...

'Couldn't put this book down - there's a lot of history here! A fine piece of work - respect to Snowboy for reminding me of a large chunk of my dj life'
Gilles Peterson - BBC Radio 1: Worldwide

In sum, the cultural significance of this text is immense. It is a classic in the field of dance and music.
Professor Robert Farris Thompson - Yale University

Dripping with sweat and knowledge, this book has the driving rhythms of jazz dance down like a hi-hat beat. Master percussionist Snowboy is a fine proponent of this amazing underground scene.
Robert Elms - BBC Radio London

Whether you were there or not this book is a must have for fans of dance jazz. Snowboy has painstakingly pieced the story together. By printing his interviews verbatim he manages to get a great first person touch. Snowboy is a Don!
Jez Nelson - BBC Jazz On 3 / Somethin' Else

As a DJ and music maker with taste and knowledge as far as the eye can see, there is no better man than Snowboy to document this remarkably effervescent and unique corner of dance culture. Through the personal testimonies in this book, you'll see a whole world unravel before your very eyes, and in his painstaking efforts to give the phenomenon it's correct context, you'll also happen to be in possession of the most comprehensive guide to the UK underground clubbing scene of the last 4 decades that's ever gone to print.
Mark Webster: TV & Radio Broadcaster + Journalist

There is a saying that goes: "If you can't remember something then you weren't really there". I was and I can't! Thank God Snowboy can. A book not so much researched as lived. This is a fascinating insight into what history may well come to decide was a period of musical activity far more influential than 'Brit Pop'.
Craig Charles - Craig Charles' Funk & Soul Show BBC Radio 5

"By the time you read through the various DJs' playlists at the back, you'll be scurrying back to your collection or boogalooing down to your retailer of choice. A specialist triumph."
Daryl Easlea, Record Collector 369 - 4 Stars

Cotgrove's gathering of extensive testimony of an already seemingly lost world lays the basis for much wider future studies. At its peak, Jazz Fusion involved thousands of utterly devoted young males, whose commitment and enthusiasm would have been the envy of the UK dance world, if only they knew about it.
Terry Monaghan - Dancing Times

This is a book predominantly of use to insiders who want a comprehensive scrapbook to reminisce over, or to social historians looking for first-person accounts of 80s subcultures. It's written by an enthusiast for enthusiasts... and there's material here for a documentary or feature film that would no doubt be a great watch.
Mark Fisher - The Wire

It's much more than a niche story about jazz dancers. It shows how the scene cross pollinated with other movements in this incredibly fertile period for youth culture in the UK, whether it was Punk in the late Seventies or Acid House in the late Eighties. And that makes this an essential read for anyone with a passing interest in what makes the heart of young Britain beat.
Andy Thomas - Mondomix

From Jazz Funk & Fusion To Acid Jazz is densely packed with information and cross referenced with great care and a no-nonsense approach. In all a great book for newcomers to discover a significant piece of dance history and the people and tunes that shaped it, and no doubt sure to cause spirited debate within the jazz dance community.
Matthew Bazergan - Spine

"A really incredible book -- and one of the best accounts of any music scene we've ever read!
Dusty Groove - Chicago

The story of a culture that didn't have one look, one sound and one path. A subculture that wouldn't fit nicely into a box and too often got written off before it got written down. It's not that I am just enjoying the book, I am thrilled to be reading itDamian Rafferty -Fly

Mark 'Snowboy' Cotgrove has superbly and successfully distilled and bound into 290 pages, the essence of a uniquely British Jazz Dance era and its infrastructure. It will rekindle fond memories of those who were there and educate in some depth those who weren't. A most captivating and enlightening read.'
Steve Williams - UK Vibe
[...]

Longtime in the making and a true perfectionist as he is... Jazz guv'nor Snowboy has toiled long and hard to record a major concise part of music/dance history. 'From Jazz Funk and Fusion to Acid Jazz' does exactly what it says on the label, with interviews from the people that made it happen.
Lee Tyler -Blues & Soul

Reading From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz has also made me feel enormously nostalgic for the Eighties, the decade that taught me most about jazz when (club) culture was still underground and exciting, reminding me of all those people and characters that built the scene, and filling in a lot of gaps in my own knowledge of the history. I just hope that the book reaches a few younger folk who will hopefully find it inspiring.
Patrick Forge DJ / broadcaster - Okinawa

So... there you go. All you gotta do now is buy the book, start seeking out the music and then check You Tube to decipher IDJ's classic dance moves.

The Spirit Of Straight No Chaser - alive and kickin'.

Maximum Respek - January 2010

... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Perfect book for a girl named Jessica!
I purchased this book for my niece who has the name of Jessica.
She was thrilled to receive this book by mail as a birthday present!

A great book about fairies!
This book is about seven dance fairies and the mean goblins. The goblins stole all seven fairies' ribbons and transformed their ribbon to the human world and if the fairies don't get their ribbons back there will be trouble. Kristy and Rachel are two girls in the human world that are helping the fairies get their ribbons back.

The first reason why I liked the book is that some parts are very exciting. The second reason I liked this book is that some parts made me nervous, like the goblin nearly catching the girls. The third reason that I liked the story is that it is very magical. I'm sure that if you are a nine year old girl, you will like reading this book.

(Review by Jessica F) ... Read more

Product Description
Uses the format of a jazz dance class to introduce specific exercises, anatomical information, and standard jazz dance terminology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great for teachers
This book is really good for beginning teachers. It covers almost all the basics and it even goes to advance. It has been very useful for different types of jazz techniques and classes.

Brilliant, Informative - a fine supplement!
This is really a brilliant book. It has everything you need to know about jazz from basic to advanced. No matter if you are a student, dancer or teacher.
A.Gaarden,dancer,teacher& choreographer ... Read more

Product Description
This text provides necessary theory with an easy-to-read and understandable format that allows instructors to devote class time to dance. Please see Adams Racquetball Today for more information. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This book
I was introduced to this book by my dance teacher who just so happens to be the author.I was studying, in fact, the basics of jass dance in order to furthur educate myself on the art.This book proved invaluable and was splendidly written and I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
Greatly illustrated book (1. Anthology; 2. The Jazz Dancers; 3. The Jazz Class) that establishes a graded system for teaching jazz dance in universities, colleges, high schools, and dancing schools.Dimenssions: 11.4" x 9.0" x 1.5" ... Read more

Product Description
Long before Martin Williams, Gene Lees, or Gunther Schuller, Roger Pryor Dodge was writing seriously about jazz. A ballet, vaudeville, and jazz dancer, Dodge turned his critical attention to the music in the 1920s, helping to build the respect jazz has long since achieved.Now, for the first time, the essays and reviews of one of America's first great jazz critics has been collected in one volume.Hot Jazz and Jazz Dance gathers thirty years of Dodge's writing, from 1929 to 1958, offering a remarkable chronicle of the changing music and one writer's ever-growing appreciation of it. The classically trained Dodge came to jazz in the early 1920s; he quickly developed a love for the authentic, non-commercial sounds of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, and scores of now-forgotten musicians.In these essays, we share a highly personal yet professional encounter with the music--in a moving profile, for instance, of Bubber Miley ("the greatest trumpeter in jazz history--in fact, the greatest musician of them all"), who died of tuberculosis at age thirty.He ranges across the musical spectrum, from the Cuban sexteto to the blues of Lead Belly. Dodge was alsoa professional dancer, however, and this collection contains many of his articles on everything from mambo to Nijinsky (the author owned one of the largest and most important collections of photographs of the great dancer's work, and donated it to the New York Public Library) to a short essay on the young Elvis Presley ("without his having all the necessary elements that combine to make a great dancing talent, he does have the stance of a very great performer"). In addition, this volume offers Dodge's significant writing on classical music, including a piece on Baroque playing styles.Almost forgotten today, Roger Pryor Dodge was an essential force in making America's music critics take hot jazz and jazz dance seriously. A must for any jazz fan or student of modern culture, this collection deftly captures Dodge's excitement and critical insight. ... Read more

Product Description

A unique blend of energy, expressiveness, individual interpretation, and physical conditioning, VOP is the hot style of jazz dance that's captivating dancers and audiences alike. Frank Hatchett—one of the most well-known, influential teachers and choreographers in the world—coined the term VOP while teaching his students how to accent a step and stylize a movement. Since that time, VOP has become synonymous with Hatchett's style of jazz dance.

Hatchett perfected his unique style while teaching stars such as Madonna, Brooke Shields, Naomi Campbell, Vanessa Williams, Olivia Newton-John, MTV's Downtown Julie Brown, Justine Bateman, and Savion Glover. All documented in this one-of-a-kind book, Frank Hatchett's Jazz Dance gives you a behind-the-scenes look at Frank Hatchett and his exciting style of dance, with an in-depth look at what VOP is and where it came from.

After you gain a basic understanding of the Hatchett style, it's time to lace up your jazz shoes. Warm-ups include rhythmic, center, floor, and isolation exercises that not only increase flexibility, strength, and control but also get you in the mood to move. Whether you're a beginner or a professional, you'll easily follow the step-by-step approach that's accompanied by 242 photographs demonstrating the proper movements and techniques.

Frank Hatchett's Jazz Dance is divided into four levels of difficulty, allowing you to easily progress through the stages of basic, beginner, advanced beginner, and intermediate/advanced. Hatchett hints accompany each step to address proper alignment, technique, common areas for improvement, and how to stylize the movement.

Once you've learned this unique approach, you can add your own artistic interpretation, creating jazz movements and combinations to make the style come alive. Then you will truly understand the innovation and spirit in this magnificent art form.

Customer Reviews (2)

Comprehensive Guide to Jazz Dance Methods
Frank Hatchett and Nancy Myers Gitlin have provided a thoroughly comprehensive guide to jazz dance.Whether enthusiastic novice or experienced jazz dancer, this book is a tremendous resource on the methodology of jazz dance.The unique expressive nature of Frank Hatchett's jazz style is captured and broken down, with detailed warm-ups and movements, truly helpful technique tips and anecdotes from the authors.The history of this unique style of jazz dance is documented, which is a great resource for those studying dance at the collegiate level.What I found particularly helpful is understanding the various elements of Frank's style, known as VOP, and becoming comfortable with now teaching this to my students.The book even has an introduction by one of Frank's star students---Brooke Shields!Nancy Myers Gitlin has done a great job collaborating with this dance legend to document this influential jazz dance style.I would recommend this book HIGHLY!

Frank Hatchett's Jazz Dance
This book is every dancers dream. It is wonderful and very touching. ... Read more

Product Description
The great improvisational American jazz musicians of the mid-20th century inspired a generation of photographers to develop a looser, moodier style of visual expression. That evocative approach is on striking display in The Jazz Image. Covering six decades of performers —from Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington to John Coltrane and Miles Davis—this unique collection is as much a comprehensive catalogue of jazz greats as it is a salute to the photographers who captured them.

Lee Tanner, a leading authority on jazz photography, has selected works—by such noted jazz photographers as Herman Leonard, Bob Willoughby, Milt Hinton, and Bill Claxton—that are iconic, candid, explosive, and intimate. They provide a simultaneous look at jazz, photography, and America from 1935 into the 1990s. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Jazz Image:Masters of Jazz Photography
Loved the imagery contained in the book. A beautiful book that can transform you back to this really great era of music. A wonderful table book. If you love Jazz and its history, you will love this book.

Truly great images
If you grew up listening to jazz from the 30's through the 60's you'll really enjoy the pictures in this book.They evoke a feeling and, in most cases, present the players as "bigger than life"...just as they were to us then and now.

candid photos depicting the greatest stars in jazz!
Wonderful "coffee table" book, loaded with excellent candid photos of the greatest jazz stars -- definitely a keeper!

Great Overview
this is the kind of Book that truly showcases some of the Greatest Jazz Artists Ever. Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Miles Davis,Louis Armstrong, amongest others. it is great to see so many Important musical figures in the Moment where Creativity is coming about. this is a Must have collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

What?
This is not what I expected. I have a hard time following the combos that are written. Too wordy.

A quite practical, do-it-yourself instructional guide
Jazz Dance Styles & Steps For Fun by dancer, dance teacher, and choreographer Helen Andreu, is a quite practical, do-it-yourself instructional guide which is enhanced with black-and-white illustrations. Andreu draws upon considerably expertise to teach the reader how to enjoy jazz dance styles ranging from blues, to disco, to everything in between. Step-by-step instructions, tips for aerobicizing dance steps if one is after an intense workout, sample routines, and so much more, make Jazz Dance Styles & Steps for Fun an excellent and thoroughly "user friendly" self-help resource for serious dance students, aerobic exercise and physical fitness instructors, as well as casual folks simply looking to learn some new floor moves.

5-Star Review
Forewordreview.com gave this book 5 stars. The review is as follows:

Jazz Dance Styles and Steps for Fun - by Helene Andreu

Learning how to dance takes courage, and the opportunity to take the first awkward steps in the privacy of one's own home offers many who are too shy to venture out to a class a chance to discover a healthy avenue for fun and exercise. Andreu's comprehensive instructive guide to American Jazz dance is geared mainly toward those who have some dance experience already, as well as for beginners who are adept at visualizing movement from detailed, step-by-step directions.

Instead of imposing a regimen on her readers, Andreu allows everyone to determine what they want to learn and when. "You, the reader, decide how to use the book," Andreu explains at the start, "either proceed from the beginning to the end; or choose a favorite style and gradually learn that entire chapter; or look at the symbols for level of difficulty and learn all the easiest steps first, or learn the jogging sequence and aerobic variation of each step if that is your prime interest."

Each chapter details a different style of dance, including Latin, Swing, Afro-Caribbean, and free-form jazz, with ample background information on the history, trends, and influence of the dance. A bibliography of selected readings is also included for each jazz style, along with a discography of recommended music to accompany the routines. Visual learners are aided in the translation of described movements by still photographs throughout of the author and other dancers performing the steps, while those with some dance experience should be familiar enough with stage directions and basic steps to move quickly through the routines of their choosing.

Copious detail and thought is evident in each page of the book, and at first the volume of information appears overwhelming, the learning curve daunting. Yet once readers understand the system-symbols indicate the difficulty level of each step, with routines for both aerobic exercise and dance-the tools are readily available to begin.

Andreu, who has taught all ages of people all forms of dance, from ballet to tap to folk and ethnic, promises that by the end "you'll have acquired grace, stamina, coordination, and fitness through the excellent workouts in various styles of jazz with a contemporary flair." Her obvious knowledge and enthusiasm does everything to assist in achieving this end.

Review by Christine Thomas, Forewordreview.com ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Overview of Dance/Music History
This book is a great condensed overview of different eras and their styles of dancing and music.It also had some exercises for Jazz students including pictures, which is very helpful.I enjoyed the book.

Wanting to learn about Jazz? This is the book for you!
This book was very insightful. It gave a detailed history of where Jazz began and how it has developed to the present day. It also discussed proper nutrition a dancer should have, classroom etiquette, injury prevention andmuch more. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn orteach jazz. ... Read more

Product Description
This text contains a short summary of the evolution of jazz dance from its roots in folklore to its modern status as a style of performance dance. The author pays tribute to jazz dance's earliest exponent, the Swiss choreographer Alain Bernard. ... Read more

Product Description
First time in paperback: Interviews with jazz greats by an inimitable British writer and raconteur

Max Jones, known affectionately as "the Boswell of bebop" (Time Out), was famed in England for nearly four decades of insightful, ardent writing on jazz. With this luminous collection of interviews, his work will at last be widely accessible to American readers. Here are the voices of jazz-Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Hodges, Billie Holiday, and Mary Lou Williams, to name but a few-in conversation with Jones, who could turn a casual chat into an indelible portrait and who gives American readers a view of these musicians they have never had before.

Previously published as Talking Jazz ... Read more

Product Description
A valuable resource for learning the basics of jazz from Mike Steinel of the University of North Texas. It covers the basics of jazz, how to build effective solos, a comprehensive practice routine, and a jazz vocabulary of the masters. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Building a Jazz vocabulary, This book needs help
I really don't like this book very much and would not reccomend it to anyone. As a musician who would write a book and do it all in C Major. I'm also a student at a community college and today I attempted an assignment and when I needed to transfer information onto paper from the textbook the information in here was not helpful enough and I shall be telling my teacher and looking for a different book.

More theoretical than practical
Man I hate to thrash somebody's book, but after dusting this thing off today to see whether I could get anything new out of it, I feel duty bound to save others from the frustration I experienced.

I got a bachelor's degree for guitar performance, and I have played in rock, blues, country, dance, variety, etc band since I was a kid. I have always felt like I have the right kind of mind for improvisation - I improvise well in those other genres - but I never got bit hard to make a serious study of jazz about 2 years ago. This book was the only book I bought to supplement transcription as my tutor.

So - yeah, first mistake right there. If you want to avoid my bad experience, be smart and buy a bookshelf's worth of books.

Now that I am off the ground as a jazz improviser (tho I wouldn't say good by any broad set of criteria - give me a decade to work on good), I can say that this book seems mislabeled.

I think the ideas in the book are novel and informative, especially for a composer who wanted to analyze jazz solos and make sense out of them - maybe develop a vocabulary of motives and develop them in a familiar classical composition process - but I don't see this a great tool for the woodshed in its current form.

For a new edition, I would like to see less - none, in fact - of the totally abstract permutation stuff like intervals on p19, and much more of the cookbook type stuff starting on p139.

I now understand where this book was coming from, but I simply didn't benefit much from it.

Excellent
The exercises are really helpful. Just bear in mind: You will need a looot of time to go over all of them

1
Very well organized with a wide variety of presentations of the material.A finely structured presentation of several jazz basics with exteensive permutations of each.

Too much theory, not enough 'music'
Although an accomplished musician and with thorough knowledge of music theory, this book is too much theoretic for me. I can't get hold of the message... ... Read more

Product Description
Embracing the entire history of jazz poetry, the work defines this inspired literary genre as poetry necessarily informed by jazz music. It discusses the major figures and various movements from the racist poems of the 1920s to contemporary times when the tone of jazz poetry experienced a dramatic change from elegy to celebration. The jazz music of Charlie Parker and John Coltrane transliterated into poetry by the likes of Langston Hughes and Sterling Brown is but a part of this vital work. This unusual volume will be of interest to scholars and students of literature, music, American and African Studies, and popular culture as well as anyone who enjoys jazz and poetry. ... Read more