What Jazz Is

Imagine you are in the audience of a jazz club and you are invited on stage to meet the musicians after the set. You listen to them talk about the tempo of the last tune, the songs for their next set and their jazz idols. What Jazz Is gives you the experience of 'being there', as Jonny King takes you on stage and into the core of modern jazz. From the unique perspective of a professional jazz pianist, King explains each instrument's role in the tempo, harmony and melody, and he reveals the order and logic behind the seeming randomness of improvisation. He celebrates the distinctive playing styles of such classic jazz artists as John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk, as well as his contemporaries, such as Kenny Garrett and Joshua Redman. In the final section he explores ten exemplary recordings at the heart of modern jazz. Whether you are about to visit a jazz club for the first time or buy your umpteenth CD, your listening experience will be enhanced by reading this eloquent and passionate account of how jazz works and why it sizzles!