A Jazz Retrospect

This is a classic of jazz literature which has been unavailable for many years. Max Harrison has been long acknowledged as Britain's most distinguished and provocative jazz critic. His contributions to the deeper understanding of this art form have opened many fresh perspectives on its master musicians--challenging countless received opinions on the development and interpretation of jazz. The author casts a unique critical perspective over a wide range of jazz idioms, from the piano solos of Fats Waller and James P. Johnson to the bristling innovations of Ornette Coleman. He eloquently explores the gamut of jazz form and tradition, its neglected paths and its undervalued triumphs.