West Coast Jazz: Modern Jazz in California, 1945-1960

Rating:
Summary: This is a truly great book.l
Review: I have a rather large selection of albums from this era and this book covered many of them. I could seem to hear them in my mind as I read the book. This book not only explores the music well, but the people who played it. Would like another copy for a friend.

Rating:
Summary: A excellent book, an incredible bargain
Review: The best book on jazz (or any other topic!) I've read in the past few years. The author manages to sustain a wonderful balance among scholarship, human interest, and serious criticism. I thought I knew something about this topic -- found out I knew very little. The section on Brubeck's early years is, by itself, well worth the price of the book.