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Rating: 
Summary: 'S (not) Wonderful, but it's worthwhile
Review: This is a piano-vocal-guitar book, but the melody can be read on any instrument, and the chords are there too (useful for improvising purposes).The table of contents lists the songs in alphabetical order, yet the songs are not in the book in alphabetical order. I don't see why they couldn't have done both! Also, the table of contents does not list the composer, or even the show the song came from, but the name of someone who once recorded the song. Not necessarily the name of the person most famous for recording it (in some cases it is), or the first person to record it, or even someone who recorded it in the 20's (seeing as this book is 20's-specific); just a name of someone who once recorded it. Anyway, a nice (yet not entirely accurate) little history of jazz follows along with some interesting facts about the 1920's. For instance, did you know that Reese's Peanut Butter Cups made their debut in the 20's? Basically, it's either background information for the completely uninformed (who I couldn't imagine buying this book anyway), or some light reading to do between playing songs. The actual music in the book looks like it's been taken from a variety of sources. Most of it is pretty easy to read, but there are certain selections that were taken from piano-guitar sheets (no separate vocal line) and just have the lyrics written between the two staves. Not helpful when you're trying to just play the vocal line. Also, there's a typo or two in the lyrics, but no musical typos I've come across yet. Still, this book is worth getting if you're looking for some of those tunes you have trouble finding anywhere else, like "If I Could Be With You" or "I Know That You Know." Plus, there's a lot of standards (especially Gershwin ones), and if you have a pianist to play with you, they don't have to fake anything if they're not good with that kind of thing! I'd give it about 3 and a half to four stars. Definitely worthwhile, but not the best it could be.
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