Finland, a small Scandinavian country, is one of the most musical countries in the world, with incredible music being created in every possible genre. Some of my favorite music comes from Finland and I´ve maintained a close contact with many Finnish musicians over the years and have a very extensive collection of Finnish albums. This small, but very informative book, published by the Finnish Music Information Centre, gives an overview of the scene, with some history and list of activities, festivals, education institutions, etc. richly illustrated with many photographs. A great introduction to the Finnish scene.

This is the definitive biography of singer Bassie Smith, who was the most important figure of the genre in its early days. Albertson is an experienced author and his excellent books combines facts and critisicm. Essential reading to anyone interested in Jazz history and the roots of 20th Century music.

Well researched and well written biography of Janis Joplin, one of the most spectacular and tragic figures of Rock. Based on interviews with people who were close to Janis through her life, this book portrays her life, which was sadly much too short, revealing many aspects of her complex and unstable personality. Fascinating reading!

This small book is a guide to the Jazz scene in the French province of Ile De France, which surrounds Paris. It includes a list of clubs, venues, festivals, recording studios, schools, etc., a plethora of information which proves how much Jazz is (and always has been) alive in France.

This is basically an introduction to the French Jazz scene and a list of active Jazz musicians (at the time of publication) with biographies and contacts. Over 300 musicians are listed. Excellent source of information.

This is the autobiography by one of the wildest and most fascinating personalities of Rock music, drummer Ginger Baker. Published forty years after the peak of his popularity as member of the legendary Cream, Baker´s life story is a great piece of Rock history.

Told in great detail and spanning the period stretching from his childhood and until the mid 2000s (the Cream reunion), this is a tale of a strong man fighting his demons (drug abuse, violence and bed temper) and playing some incredible music on the way.

Baker´s life coincides with the history of British Rock of course, and his path from the early amateur Jazz bands, to professional Jazz bands to early modern Rock and Jazz-Rock (Graham Bond Organization) and later Cream, Blind Faith, Air Force… and then his involvement with African music and eventually his relocation to Africa… it´s all here.

The book is a relatively easy read, Baker´s life passing before the reader´s eyes like a documentary movie. Lot´s of typical British humor and his personal opinion about other musicians and events keep the reader glued until the very end. Highly recommended to all Classic Rock fans!

I compiled a discography of Finnish Jazz, which was published by the Finnish Music Information Centre. For me Finnish Jazz was always one of my favorites and the beautiful music originating in Finland is unfortunately little known outside the country, so I thought this might help record collectors as a guide. The discography includes over 600 titles.

I wrote this small book about Jazz in Israel at the request of my friends all over the world, who wanted to know something on the subject. It includes a history, list of musicians, clubs, festivals, schools and of course a discography.

An updated version of my book, with additional and updated information.

An illustrated catalog of the Soviet state record label, listing all the Jazz related albums released by the label. The catalog is sorted by topics, and each topic has a small article as an introduction. Nice graphic design and a lot of information.

Alexey Batashev was the first Russian Jazz writer and critic, who was allowed to publish his writings about Jazz under the Soviet regime. I met him many times and many bottles of vodka later we became friends. I also met him in Moscow, when I visited there. The book is a historical overview of Jazz in the Soviet state, covering the music from the early 20th century and up to the date of publication.

A collection of essays by the most important European Jazz writer / critic. Both history of the music and biographies of key innovators are covered, with Berendt´s unique insight and intelligence.

Earlier edition of this book - see the later edition for description.

This is probably the best basic textbook on jazz ever written. It covers all the introductory material, like styles, history, instruments and important musicians. It’s a monumental work, exquisitely written by the master of the trade. Joachim Berendt was one of the most important figures on the European jazz scene in the 1950’s – 1980’s as a producer, broadcaster, writer and festival organizer. Well-educated and passionate man whose knowledge of jazz was phenomenal and visionary and my personal friend and mentor for many years I might add. He also had the European perspective on jazz, so lacking by many US writers, who ignored the European scene completely - a gross oversight. If you need to read just one book about jazz - this is the one!

A great history of Jazz music, written by the best authorities in the field and editied by the greatest of them all. This book includes the European Jazz and its significan input to the genre, and therefore is much more ballanced that most American books on the subject. Richly illustrated by b/w photographs.

This is an exquisite book, which was originally created as the catalogue of an exhibition dedicated to the great Miles Davis, which was first presented in Paris (2009/2010) and later in Montreal (2010).

The book collects hundreds of superb photographs of Miles and his biography in seven chapters, telling his extraordinary story as outlined against the development of Jazz and as an Art Form. The elegant and fascinating graphic design (typically French) and intelligent and insightful texts (translated into English) make this a wonderful reading / aesthetic experience, not to be missed by any Miles´ fan.

Although there are several good books about Miles, his life and his music out there, this one presents a whole new experience, both visual and textual, which is unique and stunning. A must!

A great book about modern, post Bop Jazz written by two French Jazz critics / writers. Richly illustrated and well written, this is a great introduction to the subject.

A discography of Norwegian Jazz released on the small, but excellent Norwegian lablel ODIN. A brief history of the local Jazz scene is also included.

The only book about Jazz, which was allowed to be published in Socialist Romainia, by a critic and historian of the genre and my friend Mihai Berindei. Although the dictionary covers the entire genre, the coverage of the local scene is of course most interesting and a rare source of information about Jazz in Romania.

A landmark and gigantic work by Professor Paul F. Berliner about the thought processes involved in improvisation, the basis of Jazz music. Fifteen years in writing and experiencing Jazz at first hand as a player as well as interviewing the leading Jazz figures went into producing this work. This is a serious reading experience, but quite enlightening. Many musicological terms and music theory are used, but even less professional readers can comprehand most of it.

This is a fascinating autobiography by Polish guitarist Wieslaw Bernolak, one of the pioneers of Polish Rock. From the early 1960s, when he was a founding member of the Czerwono-Czarni (Red-Blacks), Bernolak experienced at first hand the early days of Rock And Roll under the Socialist Regime, which is a tale of "against all odds" from start to finish.

Later on Bernolak was a founding member of the excellent group Polanie, which was founded by joining several members of the Czerwono-Czarni with members from their bitter rivals Niebiesko-Czarni (Blue-Blacks). Polanie were the first Polish supergroup and their music was much more advanced that anything else at the time. The book ends in 1969, when Bernolak, like many other Poles, left his country, in his case to Sweden, to try their luck in a less stressful environment.

The memoirs are accompanied by many photographs, which add a visual aspect to the detailed story of these strange and fascinating times. People interested in the development of Rock behind the Iron Curtain will find this fascinating, but alas the book is in Polish, with limits the audience to Polish-speaking readers.

2nd volume of a Jazz encyclopedia issued in France by the French "Jazz Hot" magazine. As the title suggests, this volume tells the story of New Orleans and the early days of Jazz.

Quite an interesting book covering many different aspects of the Psychedelic phenomenon and nicely designed with many excellent photographs and art work. This book does not focus on the Psychedelic music, but extends to cover the history, the social phenomenon, the art, in short the entire scope that seems relevant. Definitely worth reading, especially for the younger generation that did not experience it first hand.

A great book by one of America´s most famous Jazz critics / writers, who tells the story of Jazz through eight short biographies of such Jazz greats like Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Jack Teagarden, etc.

First book about Progressive Rock written and published in Israel (in Hebrew), which is mainly intended to serve as an introduction to the subject for the young generation of listeners who discovered Prog many years after it was born. Well written but limited in scope, still an excellent first read.

A biography of one of the Jazz legends written by one of the best British Jazz critics / writers. Superbly written and a great read, with insight and historical perspective.

A biography of Polish Jazz legend, saxophonist Zbigniew Namyslowski, a member of the Krzysztof Komeda Quintet (together with Tomasz Stanko) and later a leader of his own groups and the most influential Polish Jazzman.

This is a first of its kind attempt to write a comprehensive book about Jazz in Poland, one of the great European Jazz centers with a fascinating history and rich tradition. Brodacki, who was there to witness the development of Jazz in his homeland since the late 1960s as a fan, amateur musician, journalist, photographer, organizer and activist, has an extensive personal experience, on which the book is largely based.

However, although well researched and presenting a plethora of facts, all in chronological order, the author is not a historian per se, lacking the objectivity and historical perspective required in such a lofty task as presented by this book. Many of the opinions presented in this book are highly personal and often plainly biased, sometimes outdated and somewhat distorted by the usual Polish small envies, cliques, internal political struggles, etc. Some important Jazz personas are misrepresented or plainly omitted, other receive an exaggerated praise and importance.

In retrospect I´m quite convinced now that a proper history of Polish Jazz can be written only by an "outsider", i.e. someone with the skills and knowledge but not a Pole.

Altogether this book remains an important pioneering effort, which hopefully will be followed by a more thorough attempt in the near future.

A great collection of writings about the Polish Jazz scene after WWII from 1945 and until 1960, the early days. Considering that during most of that period Jazz was banned in Poland by the Socialist regime, this is a fascinating piece of history.

A great book, which tells the story of the 1960´s not by talking about the stars but rather from the point of view of the listeners, who were in their teens and early twenties at the time. Full of interesting insights about the social and political climate of the era and how these were reflected by the music. Essential reading to people interested in understanding the era or those of us who with to reminiscence.

Extensive and incredibly detailed biography of one of music´s greatest producer, Phil Spector, who invented the "Wall Of Sound" technique and dominated the recording industry for many years. Based on painstacking research and numerous interviews with Spector, the book outlines his personal life and musical career from his childhood and up to his jail sentence for murder. Very educational for anybody interested in the music industry.

A brief history of Jazz in Sweden, one of the European Jazz strongholds and a favorite refuge for many American Jazz musicians in the 1960´s.

This is a fantastic source of information about Jazz albums from literally around the world, many of them absolutely obscure, covering the sub-genres in the title.

This is a fantastic source of information about Jazz albums from literally around the world, many of them absolutely obscure, covering the sub-genres in the title.

A biography of Brazilian Jazz singer Flora Purim, wife of Airto Moreira, mostly about her experiences in the USA, with the usual fight against drug addiction episodes. Musically shallow, which is a pity as Purim is certainly one of the best female Jazz singers ever.

A country by country listing of European Jazz musicians.

A country by country listing of Jazz organizations, agents, clubs, etc.

A country by country listing of Jazz record labels, concert agencies, festivals, etc.

A detailed discography of the early days of Polish Jazz.

Since music is universal, it´s no surprise that Prog and other genres of Rock should spring all over the globe. This nicely done book is a cross-over between a basic history of the Prog and similar genres in the two countries and an extended discography based on the format of Joynson´s books. Recommended.

A great book devoted to independent record labels producing Jazz albums. A history of the independent labels and a detailed discography of 36 independent labels.

Jarrett is probably the most influential jazz pianist living today. Ian Carr has written this biography based both on extensive interviews with the artists, as well as his deep understanding of the music. The book is well researched and excellently written (as usual with Carr) and provides us with an insight into the soul and mind of the men who turned solo piano improvisation into an art form of its own. Excellent!

Ian Carr is not only a great trumpet player, composer and band leader (Nucleus) but also a wonderful writer. This excellent Miles Davis biography is intelligent, insightful and deep, without trying to be condescending and over-intellectual. Carr not only gives the reader the basic biographical facts. but he analyses the musical influences and writes extended "reviews" of the key releases. A real pleasure to read!

A fantastic book about the British Jazz scene in the late 1960´s - early 1970´s by one of the scene´s heros. Ian Carr is not only a great musician but also a great writer, as this book proves beyound any doubt. The author focuses on some of the most important British musicians of the era, like Mike Westbrook, Michael Gibbs, Chris MacGregor ond others. Absolutely essential reading.

Quite different from most other Jazz encyclopedias, this one is a true treasure - beautifully designed and illustrated by many great photographs and album cover reproductions, it is also very informative. A beautiful book.

A nice idea to present Jazz and its history by means of selecting several hundred key albums and reviewing them. European and Italian scenes are covered.

This is a fantastic discography covering Improvised Music released by five British small independent labels, who pioneered recording this genre: Bead Records, Incus Records, Matchless Recordings, Leo Records and Ogun Records. An absolute must to any record collector interested in Improvised Music / Free Jazz.

A history of Jazz in the Big Apple, the world´s capital of Jazz. The book covers the early years, i.e. the first half of the 20th Century. Well written and researched, with many photographs.

As opposed to the earlier autobiography by Billie Holiday, on which the famous "Lady Sings The Blues" movie was based, this is a much better written one and much more accurate, with a deep analysis of her music. Chilton, a gifted British writer and a Jazz trumpeter, knows what he´s writing about.

Although brief, this is an excellent introduction to Jazz history, written by British Jazz historian and musician. The book also covers the methods which Jazz improvisers use.

Well written and researched biography of saxophonist Lous Jordan, by Britain´s best Jazz biographer.

Brilliant book about one of the true Jazz giants, saxophonist Coleman Hawkins. In addition to the extended biography, the author also analyses hundreds of his recordings. This books includes an incredible wealth of information not only about Hawkins but the entire genre.

Fascinating and comprehensive history of The Doors, one of the greatest bands in Rock´s history. The books provides further insight into the mystique surrounding the legendary Jim Morrison. Beautifully designed and illustrated this is also a visual trip into the Psychedelic era.

The two British writers / journalists analyse some forty of their favorite Jazz albums, in a most unorthodox way, destroying some Jazz legends and creating new ones. Very interesting reading.

Cole is a musicologist, therefore this book is full of musical notation and theory - something that might prove difficult to read for a person with no theoretical knowledge of music. Still, the non-musical parts are excellent and illuminating, well worth reading for every Trane fan. The biography emphasizes the relationship between Coltrane´s music and his life, beliefs and emotions. Perhaps not the first book one should read about Trane, but well worth the effort.

Since this book was written in the early 1970´s, it naturally concentrates on the early period of Miles´ life and art and does not cover the later phase. Cole, being a musicologist, emphasizes his theories with numerous examples using music notation, which makes it difficult to follow for readers who can´t read music. Nevertheless there is enough "meat" here to grab the attention of any Miles´ fan and the book is definitely worth reading.

Graham Collier is not only one of Britain´s greatest Jazz musicians / composers, but also a gifted writer. This biography of the Royal Couple of the British Jazz - saxophonist John Dankworth and his wife singer Cleo Laine - is superbly written and includes a wealth of facts and musical analysis. A must for all British Jazz lovers.

In this short, but brilliantly written book British Jazz musician / composer tries to answer the question: "What is Jazz?". By using plain language and aschewing musicilogical terms, Colliar manages to create the best possible introduction to the subject.

This is an instruction book addressing the development of improvisation in all its forms, individual and collective (ensemble). Includes examples with musical notation and music on the included CD.

An amazingly detailed discography of Jazz legend, clarinetist Benny Goodman.

Julie Coryell is the wife of Larry Coryell, the great guitarist and one of the founding fathers of Fusion, so this book is written by somebody really close to the source! Laura Friedman is a talented photographer, with delicate eye and superb touch. Together they bring us probably the best non-texbook book on the subject. One-on-one interviews with the entire Fusion scene, as it was happening. Over 60 interviews all together, with such musicians as John Abercrombie, the Brecker Brothers, Stanley Clarke, etc., etc. This is a gem not to be missed, but unfortunately this has been out of print for ages - what a pity.

This is the book that came inside The Beatles "Get Back" LP box. It includes some great photographs of the "fab four" at the recording studio and the famous "roof" gig and some of their sayings at the time. Nostalgia.

Absolutely brilliant guide to modern British Jazz, compiled at the time the scene was at its peak, with great information about the musicians, recordings, etc. Invaluable to British Jazz enthusiasts and record collectors.

A directory to the British Jazz scene at the time of publishing, with musicians, venues, etc. Great source of information for historians.

A superb autigiography by one of Rock´s brightests stars. Quite a painful reading since Crosby reveals all, including the darkest moments of drug addiction and hoplessness. Fascinating glimpse at rock, its history and psychology amd the social aspects of fame and downfall from fame. Brilliant!

This is a biography of a true music legend, the great Jimi Hendrix. Writing such a book is of course an immense challenge and not one of the many books about Hendrix comes even close of telling the full story, as it should be done.

The author did collect a myriad of facts and interviewed a great many people, which is of course commendable. The book includes therefore a very detailed account of the life (and death) of the guitar hero. For those readers, who are interested in the history, this is book is therefore quite adequate and in many respects better than most of its predecessors. Those readers waiting for a serious analysis of the Hendrix musical legacy will have to wait…

As the book is reasonably well written, it was quite a pleasure to read.

A collection of Jazz anecdotes, collected from interviews, biographies and autobiographies of Jazz musicians. Some of these anecdotes are hillarious. Brilliant stuff!

5th volume of a Jazz encyclopedia issued in France by the French "Jazz Hot" magazine. As the title suggests, this volume tells the story of Gospel and its connection to Jazz.

Cutler, as we all know, is not only a musician, but an organizer, activist, founding member of the RIO movement, etc. and a serious thinker. This book, written in a very dry, academic style, puts forward a series of social, political and esthetic theorems, all related to his musical background. Interesting - no doubt, but extremely difficult to swallow if your views happen to be different. If nothing else, it´s an intellectual challenge to go through this book without a serious depression attack. You have been warned!

Fascinating study about the role of female Jazz artists and their contribution to the art form. From the early days at the end of the 19th Century and up th the 1980´s. The author provides a lot of insight about Jazz in general and the female side of the music and entertainment business. Great read!

An in-depth analysis of the Swing Era by British journalist Stanley Dance, based on the numerous interviews and articles he wrote over the years in various Jazz magazines.

A collection of Jazz photographs taken at the Sibiu Jazz Festival in Romania, with a short introduction in Romanian and English.

This book, written by British experimental musician Hugh Davies, presents his insights about working as an artist, a musician, a composer, a performer, an instrument inventor, en educator and a researcher. A true pioneer, Davis reveals his unique universe and suggests ways to communicate via music, especially with children, who are more open to "new" sounds than grown-up listeners.

A detailed discography of John Coltrane (by session) spanning the entire career of the Jazz giant.

The Miles Davis autobiography, which is a fascinating read but not always objective and sometimes not so accurate as far as facts are concerned. Davis was always an opinionated and outspoken person, and this books reveals not only his life´s story, but also many of his views on political / social issues. A must read for any Davis fan.

This fascinating book attempts the perhaps impossible task of explaining verbally the intricacies of Free Jazz and Improvised Music, as experienced by an experienced and educated listener, attempting to enlighten other listeners and share his experiences. Considering the difficulties involved, the author makes an excellent effort, which is an enjoyable, although not easy, read. Full of facts and references to recordings, this might be used as a guide to exploring the genre and share one´s own experiences with the author. The CD included with the book serves as a collection of sound samples, discussed in detail in the book. Wholeheartedly recommended to the brave hearted music connoisseurs!

The master of cover Art, here as a commentator on other people´s work. A great collection of some of the best designs in record covers. If you´re into cover Art, a must, but you probably won´t be able to find this one anyway.

An overview of the French Jazz scene with details about musicians, venues, etc.

Basically an extended history of Psychedelia, pushing it a bit into "related" areas, which purists won´t really consider as a part of the genre, but still quite informative and worth reading.

This is one of the very few books about Jazz published in DDR (East German Republic) under the Socialist regime. The author collected a great set of photographs, taken over the years in DDR and other Eastern Block countries, which document the vitality of the Jazz scene in these countries. A short text in Russian and English is added as supplement. Extremely rare.

Stunning collection of photographs taken during the Northsee Jazz Festivel (the biggest Jazz festival in the world) over the years. A short introduction in Dutch, German and English.

A beautifully designed book with many great photographs, which tells the story of Jazz, based on the many articles published on the subject in the prestigius Esquire magazine by the best writers like Leonard Feather, Nat Hentoff and many others.

A biography of the Buffalo Spriengfield, one of the most important US bands in the late 1960´s, well written and revealing many unknown facts about the internal forces and personal dynamics, which eventually ripped the group apart. A must for fans of Classic Rock.

As far as general Rock resource books (encyclopedias) are concerned, this is definitely one of the better ones in town. Includes over 1,800 musician´s profiles and over 11,000 reviews and ratings of their recordings. In short a good reference book, even if you don´t exactly agree with the reviewer´s taste.

1st volume of a Jazz encyclopedia issued in France by the French "Jazz Hot" magazine. As the title suggests, this volume tells the story of Blues and its relation to Jazz.

6th volume of a Jazz encyclopedia issued in France by the French "Jazz Hot" magazine. As the title suggests, this volume tells the story of Rhythm ´n´ Blues and its relation to Jazz.

A guide to Jazz festivals worldwide, with contact details, etc.

A new edition of the book "Inside Bebop", which in fact was a more descriptive title, as the book is all about the Bebop sub-genre, its history and musical meaning. Feather is one of the best writers about Jazz.

This book is based on the diaries of Leoanrd Feather, one of greatest Jazz critics and writers, with a lifetime dedication to the music. He tells the story of the music through his personal memories, travels, experiences, etc. Great read!

Written by two of the most important Jazz ctitics / writers, this is a classic reference book on the subject. Includes over 1,400 musicians´ entries from all the sub-genres. A classic.

A brilliant book about the Soviet Improvised Music and Free Jazz scene, which somehow managed to develop and reach great creative hights under the nose of the authorities. Includes essays by many of my East European friends like Virgil Mihaiu (Romania) and Bert Noglik (DDR). This is a rare peek into a whole universe of music, which was at the time completely unknown to the Western listeners.

Very comprehensive book about the most important Jazz musician ever, which includes a biography, analysis of his music and a detailed review of his recordings.

Very interesting study of the Blues and other American musical cultures (like Cuban and Brazilian music) and their influences on Jazz. Absolute eye opener and a must for serious music lovers.

A well written history of the Mecca of Jazz in Britian, the Ronnie Scott Jazz Club, and the man behind it - Ronnie Scott the musician. Fascinating peace of Britisg Jazz history.

As the title suggests, this is a biography of sorts, presenting as many facts as possible in a chronological order. If these facts (relevant or not) are of interest to you, well then this book is definitely for you, but if one is looking for some music analysis, in-depth critique or intellectual approach - keep looking. For ELP fans only!

A catalog of releases by the FMP label, which is one of the most important European record labels on the scene of Free Jazz and Improvised Music. It includes a history and musical philisophy of the label and detail description of its releases. Text in German and English.

This book tells the history of the NY (Harlem) Apollo Theatre, one of the landmarks of the NY music scene, which hosted concerts by all the Pop, Rock, Soul and Jazz great performers over the yeras. Very well written and research, this is a great piece of music history.

This is a wealth of information at your fingertips, if you are into musician´s histories and the various bands they played in. A must for every Rock researcher!

More of the above, a more recent addition, meticulous as usual. This is a vital tool for any Rock researcher and historian, but the general public should be able to enjoy this as well, especially if your favorite group is charted.

Excellent book about one of Americas greatest Rock bands, with detailed account of the tragic events that seemed to hount the band over the yeras. Great read!

Monumental book about the history of Jazz vocals in America, probably the most serious work ever published on the subject. The wealth of information and the depth of the analysis are stunning. A must to any serious Jazz researcher.

Fascinating history of the Polish Jazz and early Rock in the 1940´s and 1950´s, the years following WWII and the new Socialist regime. Richly illustrated, this is a monumental piece of history, which so far was mostly unknown.

A detailed account od Czeslaw Niemen´s life and musical career, written by his friend and collaborator, who is a Polish journalist and broadcaster. Well written and richly illustrated, this book tells the story of Poland´s greatest and most important musician and his struggle to create his visionary musical vistas, often against all odds. A fascinating story of a fascinating man, who created fascinating music!

An overview of the European Improvised Music and Free Jazz scene with interesting articles and many great photographs, published by the FMP label.

A brilliant collection of essays on Jazz by Village Voice critic Gary Giddins. He captures the 1980´s scene and its essence with insight and vision.

Rolling Stone journalist Mikal Gilmore´s collection of essays on Rock (and a little of Jazz), based on his interviews with the musicians. Superbly written, this is a serious and not easy reading.

A basic Jazz textbook covering the dramatic period of Jazz development and the birth of bebop.

The earliest book dealing with Psychedelia and the group that invented many aspects of it, by a very good music critic, who was at the right time and at the right place. Unfortunately he died some years ago. Would you believe this book was priced at .95 cents?

Well written history of the early days of Jazz in Britian, from the turn of the 20th Century and until the 1950´s, when a new, independent form the American influences, scene emerged.

A basic reference book covering the feverish 1950´s, with landmark developments including the early Free Jazz.

A direcotory of Jazz education institutions in Europe.

A listing of Jazz musicians in Hungary at the time of publication, with short biographies and discographies.

Well written and researched history of the West Coast Jazz scene in the 1950´s, very comprehensive and revealing many previously unknown facts.

A loving portrait of the Jazz scene in the 1930´s and 1940´s, with many outstanding and rare photohraphs.

A superb autobiagraphy by one of Rock´s most fascinating figures, manager and concert organizer Bill Graham, who created the two Rock shrines - Fillmore East & West. Absolute must read for fans of the Classic Rock era.

A great overview of the fantastic Finnish Jazz scene at the time of publication. Includes a brief history and biographies of musicians.

Based on his interviews with Frank Zappa, the author presents here a critical biography, rich in facts and insight. Anything about Zappa is always a fascinating read, especially when so well written.

The usual story of drugs, sex and Rock & Roll, which was typical of any Rock band in the 1960´s / 1970´s (and later), well written and hiding none of the ugly facts.

A great books based on a series of interviews by the author with Jazz vocalist over a period of several years.

As usual with Hanson´s books, this is a meticulously researched history of The Nice, one of the most important early British Prog bands, sadly often underappreciated. Based on interviews with band members Lee Jackson, Brian Davison and Davy O´List (Keith Emerson refused to cooperate), the author tells the fascinating story of the band, their rise to stardom and the eminent downfall. Full of anecdotes, behind the scenes info about the music scene in the late 1960s and the Music Industry at the time, this is a great read, as well as being highly informative.

As usual with Hanson´s books, this is a meticulously researched history of The Groundhogs, one of the most important British Blues and Blues-Rock bands, sadly often underappreciated. Based on interviews with the band´s founder and leader, guitarist / singer / songwriter Tony McPhee, and other members of the band, the author tells the fascinating story of their career spanning from the mid-1960s through the 1980s. Richly illustrated by many photographs, posters, etc. this book is a great example of how a biography of a band should be presented. Full of facts, stories and anecdotes, this is a most enjoyable read.

I had the immense pleasure of writing the foreword to this book as well as adding a few details from my memory banks and a few reviews of Jon Hiseman´s albums – a sort of "thank you" note to Jon, who made my life happier and more interesting with his music. Jon´s contribution to the revolutionary British Jazz and Progressive Rock is vast and invaluable, and this great book tells, for the first time and in great detail, how and why things happened the way they did over the years. It presents an amazing story of Jon´s life as a musician, full of facts and anecdotes, successes and failures, which together produce a fascinating read. But it also is much more than just one man´s history – it is a history of the entire British musical scene during some of its most glorious years. The book is an absolute must to anybody interested in Prog, British Jazz and music history in general and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Anybody interested in reading my foreword can do so in the "Writings" section on this site.

A listing of Rock musicians with short biographies and discographies. Very comprehensive.

A very interesting and unique attempt to analyze Rock Music and especially the lyrics of the songs in a philosophical / social context of the era. Very interesting insights and a great reading!

An overview of Jazz by a respected critic Mzx Harrison, which is quite different from most similar attempts.

A list of 200 essential Jazz recordings selected by five British Jazz critics.

This is a monumetal catalog published for the exhibition about Jazz history at the International Music Institute in Darmstadt, Germany. 800 pages of text, great photography and artwork, weighting 10 kilos or so.

Fascinating autobiography by one of the greatest British Jazz / Jazz-Rock Fusion musician. Saddly Dick passed away, but this memories are also very personal to me, as I witnessed many of stories mentioned there.

Although a lot of articles and essays have been written over the years about Krzysztof Komeda, the Godfather of Polish Jazz and the musical Genius, this is the first attempt to write an extensive biography of Komeda the man, rather than write about his music. Meticulously researched, the book presents the story of Komeda´s life, in chronological order, accompanied by many photographs, documents and interviews of people, who were close to him. There is also a list of all the films for which Komeda composed soundtracks, his discography and other collections of facts. Overall the book serves its purpose well and is an enjoyable as well as an educational read.

A very interesting attempt to present a historical overview of the Psychedelic Era, with beautiful photographs and reproductions of Psychedelic Art. Definitely worth having!

Great biography by a great writer, with in-depth analysis of the music and detailed discography.

Great book about Jazz by one of the best writers on the subject. Based on his articles and interviews published in many American newspapers.

Nat Hentoff is one of the best writers about Jazz and this is a classic book on the subject, with deep insight and understanding of the music.

4th volume of a Jazz encyclopedia issued in France by the French "Jazz Hot" magazine. As the title suggests, this volume tells the story of Bebop.

A fascinating account of the bootleg phenomenon and industry and a must reading for every record collector and record company executive. Very witty and well written.

A brilliant book by the first great European Jazz critic / writer, French Andre Hodeir. Hodeir´s deep knowledge and love of the subject are obvious and his intellectual abilities are astounding.

Highly intelligent, provocative and imaginative book about Jazz and Jazz musicians. French writer Andre Hodeir is a legend in the field.

Brilliant Jazz wirter / composer / arranger Andre Hodeir delivers another great book on the subject with visionary insight and highly intellectual analysis.

A short but well written biography of the Jazz giant written by British writer / record producer Raymond Horricks.

A short but well written biography of the Jazz giant written by British writer / record producer Raymond Horricks.

A short but well written biography of the Jazz giant written by British writer / record producer Raymond Horricks.

A comprehensive list of Jazz book publishers.

A comprehensive list of Jazz record labels.

A list of Jazz clubs in Europe.

A fascinating account of the collapsing music retail business in the UK, written by a man who worked in the field for decades. Jones describes the music business in general and the UK retail music scene in particular based on his personal experience, but also analyzes the reasons that brought both the industry and the retail to its knees. Full of humor and anecdotes, the book nevertheless presents a serious viewpoint and touches upon the core problems of the music industry over the years, presenting an unusual personal angle of dozens of shop owners around the UK. The fact that from about 1000 independent record shops existing in the UK in 2003 the number went down to less than a 100 in 2008 speaks for itself, and the author tries to explain what and why this happened. As someone who worked in the industry even longer than the author, this book is in many respects a mirror of my own experiences. Anybody concerned with the state of the music industry and music scene in general should find this book educational and entertaining.

A collection of essays and articles about the obscure side of Rock , presenting in-depth biographies of several "underground" heroes, as well as insights into other aspects of Rock music. Mostly well written, sometimes with an attitude (which makes fun reading, but can be infuriating) and unearthing a lot of lesser know facts and obscure bands. All together quite informative and worth reading.

Basically a list of records released during this period, with all tracks, musicians and every other known detail, sometimes also with a commentary. Very informative! You don´t have to agree with the opinions stated, but you have to admire the amount of work and patience that went into this momentous work. An absolute must for record collectors!

Basically a list of records released during this period, with all tracks, musicians and every other known detail, sometimes also with a commentary. Very informative! You don´t have to agree with the opinions stated, but you have to admire the amount of work and patience that went into this momentous work. An absolute must for record collectors!

This beautiful book is a photographic tribute to the Godfather of Polish Jazz, the Genius pianist / composer Krzysztof Komeda. The superb photos tell a story of Komeda´s short life, on and off stage, which compliments beautifully all the written material that was already published about him. All photographs are of course black & white, the proper (IMHO) medium for Jazz photography, and all of them were taken by the great Polish photographer Marek Karewicz, who is undoubtedly one of the Masters of his trade worldwide. Karewicz has been an integral part of the Polish Jazz scene since its inception and his photographs are probably the most important archive of the scene, in parallel of course with the recordings. Karewicz masterfully captures, both in portraits and "action" photographs, the smoky atmosphere of a Jazz club and the splendor of a concert hall stage. His photographs tell a story, often more vividly than the writer´s pen. His esthetics is sublime and his technique unsurpassed! A masterpiece!

This beautiful book collects just a few of the myriad of phenomenal Jazz photographs by the great Polish photographer Marek Karewicz, who is undoubtedly one of the Masters of his trade worldwide. Karewicz has been an integral part of the Polish Jazz scene since its inception and his photographs are probably the most important archive of the scene, in parallel of course with the recordings. He also photographed all the visiting musicians, who played concerts in Poland, especially during the Jazz Jamboree annual festival, which basically means all the Jazz Masters. As a photographer, Karewicz not only has a great "eye" but also the "soul" and understanding of the music, adding many dimensions to his Art, which are unique, profound and esthetically sublime. He was also a great designer and is responsible for 2000 album covers. H exhibited his work all over the world. Each of the 150 photographs in this book is accompanied by a short personal commentary by Karewicz. This book is a great tribute to his work, but any Jazz fan in the world should find it simply irresistible, not to mention people who love the Art of photography. His poor health didn´t prevent him from signing a copy of his book for me, which I´ll treasure as long as I live. Thank you Marek for your Gift and the enormous pleasure inspired by it and the privilege of knowing you!

A collection of writings about Jazz by famous wirter and record producer Orrin Keepnews, including some fascinating insights about recording Jazz.

This book is a brilliant account of the Record Industry form the late 1970s and up to 2008, focusing on the Major (Universal, Sony BMG, Warner & EMI) record labels´ demise in the age of digital media. The book is excellently researched and brings endless quotes from the industry´s leading personalities and experts, backed by facts and figures, all showing how greed, stupidity and narrow-mindedness ruined the goose that laid the golden eggs for decades. Internal wars, personality clashes, scandalous salaries and ego trips are all there, as are many fascinating stories about the invention of the CD, Napster, iTunes and a myriad other terms relevant to the story. Although many of the basic facts are well known, collecting them together in a coherent, step-by-step history / analysis is an eye-opener, even for people well acquainted with the background, like myself. Once I started reading this book I just couldn´t stop, swallowing it page by page in a marathon reading session, something which didn´t happen to me in a long time. I´m not sure I agree with the author about the last chapter of his book, which states that although the Record Industry is dead the Music Industry is alive and kicking. He also doesn´t touch the subject of the influence of the Digital Age upon Music (the Art of) itself, but perhaps that is something another book will cover, although it might be still too early for this. In any case this is a must read for anybody interested in the "behind the scenes" of the Record Industry, Business in general and social implications of change.

Great book about the social aspects of Jazz and the connection between the music and American politics and Black Nationalism.

An overview of the Finnish Jazz scene with biographies of the leading musicians.

Memoirs by Rock Stars can be pretty boring at times, but they usually contain some fascinating insights as to the "behind the scenes" events of the stardom. In this case the great sense of humor aids to the tale and the book is a most enjoyable reading experience, full of facts and nostalgia well mixed.

"Tytul Roboczy" ("Working Title" in Polish) is an Art Magazine published in Poland, beautifully designed and published in hardcover limited edition of 700 copies only. This particular volume of the magazine focuses on the Polish artist / musician Andrzej Mitan, who was one of the participants in the making of "The Book Of Job" album I produced and recorded in Poland in 1985. It also includes my article about making of the album, which was written over 20 years later. It´s an exquisite piece of memorabilia for me, of course, commemorating that chapter of my life and the circumstances surrounding it.

An overview of the Slovak music scene with background information about active musicians, festivals, etc.

Great source of information about Jazz albums released on specialist labels by two British collectors.

Great source of information about Jazz albums released on specialist labels by two British collectors.

A general encyclopiedia of popular music of the 1950´s, listing musicians with their biographies and discographies.

A general encyclopiedia of popular music of the 1970´s, listing musicians with their biographies and discographies.

A general encyclopiedia of popular music of the 1960´s, listing musicians with their biographies and discographies.

A great collection of essays and record reviews by one of the most respected Jazz critics / writers.

An absolutely brilliant collection of the famous Fillmore posters, that shaped the face of rock art (posters and record covers) for an entire generation. Bill Graham knew how to pick them - both the musicians that played at his Fillmore halls (East & West) and the artists who designed the posters. Get it!

This is a typical example of a book which is a labor of love by one man. Extremely well researched and documented, the Florida Garage scene is in full exposure here, represented by thousands of obscure recordings from the vaults of the author. Although on first glance a very "limited" affair (both musically and regionally), this book is a perfect example of the process of documenting a musical phenomenon and doing it all the way, with a lot of insight and love of detail.

A painstakingly researched history of the recording sessions by The Beatles at the Abbey Road studios. Mainly of interest to Beatles fans and record collectors.

Litweiler is probably one of the best writers about modern / Free Jazz today. His choice of Ornette Coleman as the icon of Free Jazz is of course right on. He explores Coleman´s life and career in detail and in relation to jazz currents and American culture in general. The musician who revolutionized jazz thinking is the hero of the story, but the music is always the subject of intelligent and scrupulous examination. Includes a detailed discography. Warmly recommended!

The subject of Free Jazz is probably one of the most difficult ones when it comes to writing about music and it requires the undisputed talents of a man of Litweiler´s caliber to tackle it properly. The author manages to write a lucid, coherent and illuminating tale, taking a reader on a wild ride through the genre, represented by Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy, John Coltrane, Albert Ayler and Cecil Taylor. This is an absolute must to all Free Jazz fans and basically to all people interested in jazz. It might open your eyes and ears to musical treasures the listener might never discover on his own.

This is probably one of the strangest and most wonderful books about Jazz ever written. In 1985 Braxton´s Quartet visited UK for a tour and the author joined the musicians "on the ride", spending with them the entire period. His book is an account of this tour and his notes on the concerts and often hilarious episodes of road life, which are interspaced with a series of interviews in which Braxton talks freely about his music as well as about philosophy and social issues. A fascinating glimpse into the mind of a musical visionary!

The most detailed and comprehensive Jazz discography ever attempted. This volume covers letters G-H.

In contrast to his other book (see below) this one seems to be a "quickie" rather then a serious attempt to write about the music. Basically Lucky selected 50 of the best (in his opinion) Prog groups and presents a short biographical note and a discography of each. As the groups are listed in alphabetical order, the book neither presents any coherent picture of the genre, nor does it attempt to explain any of the important musical issues involved. Worth having as a basic (very) reference.

Basically a historical account of the Prog scene and music, not very deep or pretentious, concentrating on the records released chronologically, up to now (i.e. Prog through the years till today). All in all quite a good one and lots of information. Worth having. Comes with a rare Pink Floyd CD.

This is one of the artists who gave the Psychedelic Era its look. He designed scores of concert posters, some of which are presented in this book. A great one! (although a very small one in postcard format).

The story of America´s most important Jazz Festival, year by year, with many beautiful photographs.

A very serious analysis of the Prog scene and music, mostly in perspective of the sociological aspects of music as part of the social / political society. Many interesting insights and worthwhile thoughts, although sometimes very radical and "outrageous". If you´re into serious reading, this one is for you!

A detailed discography of the great trombone player Frank Rosolino.

A great introduction to the world of Electronic Music, with historic overview and many technical details, as well as a list of musicians and their main contributions.

A beautiful book, which collects some of the best covers designed for the legendary Blue Note Records releases in the 1960´s with a novel approach to cover art design. A must to record collectors.

The author is a musician and a Philosophy Professor - a strange combination, but he knows his Prog. A fascinating book, although sometimes quite demanding reading (especially for people less aqauianted with the intricacies of the English language). The book deals with the music as well as the philosophical aspects of the Prog phenomenon. A must for every Prog fan!

The author is a musician and a Philosophy Professor - a strange combination, but he knows his Prog. In this book he concentrates on the music of the group Yes as a symbol of Prog (which is problematic to some extent as a concept) and develops an entire philosophical thesis as to its aspects. Fascinating reading, but quite difficult if you´re not used to such approach. Even the hardest Yes fans might start wondering what he´s talking about at some points. Still a heck of a book!

A general encyclopedia of Jazz and modern music, with many entries about the Czechosolovak artists.

A small but well written and informative encyclopedia of Jazz with many photographs and suggested listening.

Supeb book about movies featuring appearances by Jazz musicians or soundtrack composed by Jazz composers. An incredible wealth of information and a great source of information about soundtracks.

An autobiography by British Jazz singer George Melly, very funny and informative with insight on the British scene.

A collection of essays about Jazz by some of the greatest literary minds of the 20th Century, which expands the common conceptions about the music into the sphere of literature and philisophy. Very intellectual and not easy to read.

A collection of essays on modern Jazz by the most prominent German critics / writers.

This is a new, expanded version of the earlier book by the same author: "Niemen O Sobie", which presents the life of Poland´s most important Rock personality, vocalist / composer Czeslaw Niemen.

Based on extensive interviews with the author, spanning the period between late 1960s and until Niemen´s death in 2004, the book is a unique document, somewhere between a biography and an autobiography. Additional interviews with Niemen´s family, musicians he worked with and other people all add many fascinating facets about Niemen´s life and music.

Of course every Niemen fan (able to read Polish) will find this book indispensible and highly exciting, but it is worth reading even by people who don´t know much about Niemen, since his life story is full of drama and human emotions. Brilliant stuff!

A detailed account of Czeslaw Niemen´s life, told in his own words during interviews with the author, which spanned over thirty years. The author only adds limited contextual links, with Niemen´s comments and stories unreveling his life and music.

A monumental book about the history of Soviet Jazz and the most serious book on the subject published in USSR. Incredible amount of information, unfortunately only to people who can read in Russian.

Great book about Jazz by writer / poet / Jazz critic Virgil Mihhaiu, revealing many facts about Jazz in his country and insight about modern Jazz in Eastern Europe.

A study of the history of Jazz in Portugal and the contemporary local Jazz scene by Romanian Jazz critic Virgil Mihaiu.

A collection of Jazz essays by Romanian critic / writer / poet Virgil Mihaiu.

A great autobiography by one of the greatest Jazz musicians of all times, very well written and quite shocking at times.

Great book about the many American Jazz musicians, who left for Europe to find a more receptive climate for their music. The book explains the social aspects of the American scene, racial discrimination and mnny other reasons behind the decision musicans make to leave their homes and move away.

Small but excellent book about the independent European Jazz labels (Chabada, ECM, Hat Hut, Nato & Steeplechase), which made an enormous contribution to the development of modern Jazz.

Mainly for hard-core Yes fans, basically a collection of interviews with Yes members, talking about the aspects of the group´s many years in business. Also quite interesting to a general Prog fan.

A general overview of the Finnish Jazz scene with biographies of active musicians.

A general overview of the Finnish Jazz scene with biographies of the leading musicians and additional information.

An overview of the Finnish Jazz scene, with biographies of the leading musicians and other information.

A great biography of the Godfather of British Blues and one of the most important musicians on the British scene in the 1960´s and 1970´s, who educated a whole generation of British musicians.

Superb book by one of the greatest Jazz writers, who is able to grasp the late developments in the ever expanding Jazz vocabulary, including Jazz-Rock Fusion, Jazz-World Fusion and Free Jazz. Excellently written and stimulating.

A great book about the much neglected subject of the important 1970´s development in both jazz and rock music. This one is more for the jazz-oriented reader, but fans of Jazz-Rock Fusion should not miss this one. Although scholarly at times, it includes a wealth of information and insight well worth investigating.

Nicolausson was the editor of the oldest Jazz periodical in the world, called "Orkester Journalen" and his metriculous discography of Swedish Jazz is a classic in the field.

This is a fascinating history of the Polish Blues-Rock group Blackout, one of the pivotal and most important, but short lived groups on the Polish 1960s scene, which later developed in the group Breakout, which dominated the Polish Rock scene in the 1970s.

Meticulously researched and including many photographs, the group tells the history of the group between late 1965 and early 1968, when it morphed into Breakout. Personal clashes between the founder / leader Tadeusz Nalepa and lead singer Stan Borys, as well as the presence of lead singer Mira Kubasinska, created a tense atmosphere, but nevertheless the group had little competition on the Polish scene and enjoyed wide popularity and success in the radio charts.

Every musician involved with the group is interviewed in depth, telling (to the best of their ability after many years) their "side" of the story. A CD with ultra-rare live performance by the group in 1966 is included.

This is a great piece of the Polish Rock history, which should be of interest to all the fans of the early days of that fascinating period.

Well written biography of Miles Davis, full of facts and musical analysis, leaving the gossip aside. Unfortunately it does not cover the very last period of Miles´ life.

Brilliant book by one of the greatest specialist on Free Jazz and Improvised Music, German critic / writer Bert Noglik. The author presents a series of essays portraying the most important European musicians / innovators like Evan Parker, Willem Breuker, Tony Oxley and many others. The book was published in DDR (East Germany), which is in itself quite amazing.
I have a spare copy of this rare book if anybody is interested, but it is in German ;)

This is a special edition of the FMP label catalog published to celebrate its 20th Anniversary, with a wonderful essay by critic Bert Noglic about about Improvised Music. Text in German and English.

Brilliant book about Free Jazz and Improvised music in the DDR (East Germany), based on the interviews with leading East German musicians, who were one of the world´s pioneers of these genres.

This fascinating book is the first biography of the European Jazz icon, Polish violinist Zbigniew Seifert. Born in Krakow, Poland on June 7, 1946 Seifert was a completely unique phenomenon, a musical Genius and a wonderful person and his life´s story, tragically cut short by cancer at the ridiculous age of 32 (he died February 14, 1979 in Buffalo, USA) is an epic of Hollywood proportions. Like the young Icarus, Seifert soared through the sky with his music, but his destiny was for his lofty plans to remain unfulfilled.

Seifert´s contribution to Polish Jazz as a leader of his own quartet (late 1960s) and a member of the Tomasz Stanko quintet (early 1970s) is colossal. He was a pivot figure in the transition of Polish Jazz from the early phase dominated by American Jazz tradition into the new European Jazz, emancipated from the restriction imposed upon the music by earlier concepts.

His international (first European and later also American) career in the mid to late 1970s, which was his most illustrious, although heavily disrupted by his illness in the last three years of his life, is one of the highlights of European Jazz, of which he became one of the brightest stars.

The author meticulously collected a vast amount of facts, documents, letters, photographs, articles, record reviews, interviews and other biographical data and wove them into a lucid, chronological story, which is easily readable and highly educational. She avoids commentary (or keeps it to the minimum) on matters which had political, sociological or other implications, keeping the text on subject at all times.

The musical criticism in this book is limited to quotes from other musicians or articles / reviews quoted. There is no serious musical analysis present, neither from the musicological nor historical point of view, which is perhaps for the good of the book as it stands. Such highly professional writing might have turned the book into a much more difficult reading experience, reducing the potential readership to a selected group of specialists. This book is intended for a wide audience, for people who knew him personally (like myself), people familiar with his music and especially for the young generation of Jazz musicians and fans, who definitely should be aware of this great man´s heritage.

The fact that the book was published in polish unfortunately limits the accessibility to readers familiar with that language, but I do hope this will be remedied at some point, as it definitely deserves to be available to all Jazz fans around the globe.

Thank you Aneta for your hard work, inspiration and dedication needed to complete this project!

A catalog of Norvegian Jazz records.

An overview of the Norwegian Jazz scene.

Quite an interesting analysis of Jazz music and the influence of urban culture on its development.

This beautiful book is a feast for your eyes as well as for your mind. Brilliant selection of the Psychedelic poster art and fascinating commentary. The book covers both the American and British scenes and is most warmly recommended. Get it!

A collection of profiles of drummers, who use the legendary Paiste cymbals.

Beautiful little book published in celebration of the visit by German avant-garde Jazz drummer Gunter "Baby" Sommer in Greece, where he performed with local musicians. Great b & w photographs!

A collection of essays by Greek avant-garde pianist Sakis Papadimitriou with outstanding photographs.

A catalog of the Patras Festival in Greece, with a lot of information about the Greek Jazz scene, discography of local Jazz and beautiful photographs.
I have a spare copy of this little beauty if anybody is interested, but it is in Greek ;)

A nice collection of Jazz related writings (short stories and poems).

This great book collects a series of interviews and essays by writer / photographer and a great enthusiast of British Jazz, Mike Pearson. The names of the musicians included in the book reads like a "Who´s Who" of modern British Jazz and the in-depth interviews are truly excellent. Although not meant like one, this book presents a historical overview of the British Jazz scene, with many insightful observations and a plethora of facts and personal comments by the musicians involved. Beautifully written, this book is a true pleasure to read.

Very good (and very painful) autobiography of one of the Jazz giants.

A biography of David Byron, lead singer of Uriah Heep, a great performer fallen victim to alcohol abuse. A good book with many details about the behind the scenes facts of Rock.

An overview of the Israeli Jazz scene at the time of publication.

Brilliant and beautifully designed book about the Swedish Progressive scene in the late 1960´s and 1970´s with incredibly detailed discography. A heaven for record collectors of Sandinavian Prog and Psychedelic music. Obviously a work of love.

A great book about 20th Century Classical Music, which explains the modern composing methods in relatively simple terms. A good introduction to the subject.

Introductory book, explaining Jazz in simple and precise terms. One of the best of its kind.

Concise, but very good biography of Jazz revolutionary Charlie Parker.

Perhaps the best biography of Charles Mingus, with deep insight and extremely well researched background.

One of the most serious books on Rock music ever published, following the life of Polish musical genious Czeslaw Niemen, singer / keyboards player and composer, who singlehandedly revolutionised the Easter European Rock scene in the late 1960´s and 1970´s. Based on years of in-depth interviews with the artists, the author presents a serious portrait of his personality, his social and political horizons and his deep attachement to Polish literature.

This beautiful book tells the story of Love Records, the small Finnish record label Love Records, which was active in the 1960s / 1970s and released some of the best, most interesting and most beautiful music on this planet.

Beautifully designed, lavishly illustrated and meticulously researched, this book is a tribute of love to the label´s unique status and achievement. In retrospect Love Records were one of several labels, which changed the fate of music by allowing unknown and uncompromising musicians to record and release their music, which would later influence generations of young musicians. The disregard of commercial considerations and the complete artistic freedom which the label offered its artists was symbolic and prophetic, as it eventually brought the label to its financial collapse.

This book is a superb tribute paid to the label´s creative output and one can only wish that other labels of similar importance and fate will be attributed in similar way one day.

More than any other Jazz icon, John Coltrane continues to fascinate writers / researchers / critics and the music listeners, now 45 years after his tragically untimely death. Quite a few books about Coltrane, his life and his music were written and published over time, but this new book by NYT Jazz critic Ben Ratliff is one of the best.

Having the benefit of a longer historical perspective (than other authors) and the open-mindedness (he is also a Rock critic) required for understanding music, Ratliff examines again what he calls the legendary "Coltrane sound", trying to describe its essence and aesthetic influence. In part two of the book he tries to analyze the influence of Coltrane´s music upon other Jazz musicians over time as well as Culture in general.

The book is excellently written and proposes many highly intellectual issues, which deserve to be contemplated in depth. It is intelligent and provoking as well as highly educational even for people, who have already consumed many books about Coltrane. The only slight point of criticism would be (as with almost everything written in the US) the complete omission of Coltrane´s influence on European Jazz in particular and European music in general, which in fact was even more dramatic than the influence in the US soil.

Altogether this is an instant classic, which deservers to be a part of any serious music library. Kudos Ben!

This is a stunning book, which collects hundreds of mostly black & white photographs of The Rolling Stones by the Danish photographer Bent Rej, taken between March 1965 and May 1966. These extraordinary photographs tell the story of the group at the formative time, when their popularity was rising like a rocket and had no rivals other that The Beatles.

The old phrase that "a picture tells a thousand words" is true in this case more than ever. The text accompanying the photographs in factual and very informative, but of course the images are much more important. This is a superb example of marvelous Rock photography of the highest quality, which is characterized not only by the technical quality of the photographs, but more importantly by the keen eye of the Artist, able to catch the right moment, with the right lighting effect and the dramatic dynamics frozen in a split second.

This is an absolute must to every Rolling Stones fan and Rock photography connoisseur.

Brilliant discography of the Bitish Jazz at the peak of its creative powers, covering the late 1960´s / 1970´s and early 1980´s. Incredible detail and a superb resource for record collectors.

This is the second edition of Renaud´s discography of British Jazz published a decade earlier, expanded and brought up to date. Meticulously researched, this is the best ever publication of its kind and an absolute goldmine of information to any record collector / fan of British Jazz. Although not complete and perfect, since no discography, especially of this scope can ever be, this is as close to perfection as possible and summarizes the author´s lifetime work and love put into the project. This is an essential document!

8th volume of a Jazz encyclopedia issued in France by the French "Jazz Hot" magazine. As the title suggests, this volume tells the story of Jazz-Rock Fusion.

A collection of essays by some of the best American Jazz writers, like Frank Kofsky and Nat Hentoff, about American black Jazz musicians.

A serious study of Jazz in the post bebop period and the emergence of hard bop as an amalgam of bebop and rhythm ´n´ blues. Very interesting.

A comprehensive biography of Duke Ellington with good analysis of his music and extensive discography.

Considered the best biography of Jazz giant Charlie Parker, including many details about his life and a deep analysis of his music. One of the most popular Jazz books.

An overview of the Belgian Jazz scene, with biographies of leading musicians, with many great photographs.

Supposedly the most in-depth analysis of the Pink Floyd history and development. Well researched, fluently written and informative, but also opinionated. A must for any Pink Floyd affictionado, but worth reading for all music fans.

This is a great book by Polish musicologist / educator / activist Andrzej Schmidt, which presents a detailed and well researched history of Jazz from its earliest days (and even its genealogy), which for a Polish reader unable to read publications in English is the most comprehensive source of information on the subject.

Well written and accompanied by many examples of musical notation as well as relevant photographs, this book presents a wealth of knowledge rarely available from other sources. The strength of the book lies especially in the early period of the Jazz history, which occupies the majority of the book, and less so with more recent developments, but in truth there are very many books published about modern Jazz and relatively very few about the early days of Jazz, which makes this book even more important.

If not for the language barrier, this book could be a classic textbook on the subject worldwide.

1st volume of a Jazz history by Polish writer Andzej Schmidt, covering the origins of Jazz and the really early years at the end of the 19th Century.

As the title suggests, this is mostly an account (very gossipy at times) about the Era when it all started. Fun reading, if you´re into things like who slept with whom and why, but also quite an interesting insight into this fascinating time.

1st book about Jazz in Hebrew. The author presents the history and the development of the music. Very basic but for many years the only source of information about Jazz for Hebrew speaking readers.

A superb book about one of the British Jazz and Rhythm ´n´ Blues giants Graham Bond, which tells the tragic story of his life.

A fascinating bokk based on the material published by the "Bomp!" and "Mojo Navigator" magazines under the leadership of rebel and excentic Greg Shaw, who also owned the Bomp! Records label. Unconvetional and often controvercial, this is Rock journalizm at its best and most hillarious. A must for any serious Rock historian.

In-depth analysis of black music by singer / writer Ben Sidran, who tries to show the common elements of black music, regardless of genre, in the African roots and traditions.

A beautiful book in which the author, singer and writer Ben Sidran, tells the story of the music based on a series of interviews with the leading Jazz musicians and Jazz related personalities like the legendary studio engineer Rudt Van Gelder. One of the nicest Jazz books ever. Brilliant!

A very comprehensive discography of Hungarian Jazz.

First ever book published about one of the greatest heros of free jazz, who unfortunately left us a limited legacy only due to his untimely departure. The book combines a basic biography with in-depth analysis of Dolphy´s music by a sympathetic and understanding author (Simosco - Tapperman contributed the discography part). Very well researched and well written, this is a honorable tribute to the talents of a genius.

Although not exactly about music, this fascinating book outlines in detail the history of the Hippie movement in Poland at the time when the country was behind the Iron Curtain and any association with the hippy culture was considered anti-social and strictly against the law. Based on numerous interviews with the porsonalities, who were at the epicenter of the revolutionary youth movement in the country at the time, the book tells a fascinating story of struggle for freedom of expression against all odds. Beautifully designed, with great graphics and a multitude of photographs, this is a true traesure.

An incredibly detailed discography of the Polish Master Czeslaw Niemen, extremely well researched. The author provides some commentary, but mostly facts about the recording sessions, editions, etc. Richly illustrated and beautifully designed, this book is a beacon of what a discography should look like. Surely a work of love and for Niemen´s fans a great source of knowledge and pleasure.

An overview of the Slovak Jazz scene with biographies of leading musicians and other information.

Quite an interesting book, sort of go-by-example collection of record reviews introducing various members of the Prog world. However, the author´s conception of Progressive Music is very wide, including many Jazz-Rock and even Avant-Garde Jazz musicians, so some "classic" Prog fans might think this is far beyond the scope of the genre. Since Prog is about new ideas and experiments, it could be quite en eye-opener for many. Recommended!

Biographies of four Jazz heroes: Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Nicols & Jackie McLean, four quite different musicians all having their roots in bebop. Very interesting reading.

This is a lengthy account of the "behind the scenes" history of Woodstock - the peak of the Rock Era. Very interesting reading, both as a historical account and a collection of facts enlightening the Era. Recommended!

A fantastic collection of b & w photographs taken by the author, some of the best ever taken. Absolute must for people who love Jazz and photography.

3rd volume of a Jazz encyclopedia issued in France by the French "Jazz Hot" magazine. As the title suggests, this volume tells the story of Jazz music up to bebop.

7th volume of a Jazz encyclopedia issued in France by the French "Jazz Hot" magazine. As the title suggests, this volume tells the story of Free Jazz.

I´ve read a fair share of Jazz biographies in my life, probably more than most people, but reading this one was a unique experience altogether. The life of Polish Jazz legend, trumpeter Tomasz Stanko, could easily serve as inspiration for a Dostoyevsky novel or a Polanski film, not to mention a Greek play. "Living on edge", or Desperado, is Stanko´s motto, both as a musician / composer and a human being. Today, aged 70, Stanko´s personal life might have taken a turn towards relative tranquility, but his creative powers remain as tumultuous as ever.

The story of Stanko´s life and musical career, told in his own words, is a fascinating testimony of struggle; struggle against injustice of a corrupt social reality created by political dictatorship, struggle against personal demons, weaknesses and fears, struggle against the indifference of this world towards Art in general… and above all struggle with the price one has to pay for taking an artistic stand and persistently doing, what one´s inner-self dictates.

Stanko´s story is also a fascinating document about the relationship between drug addiction and creativity, the struggle to stay alive and create – both physically and metaphysically. In a wider perspective, his life story is also the story of the Polish Jazz scene after WWII – the birth of the modern Jazz and Free Jazz movements, its existence under the Socialist regime and the metamorphosis it underwent following the collapse of the old system, with the new social and economic realities.

The factual information contained herein included no revelations as far as I´m concerned, but my knowledge and personal involvement with the Polish Jazz scene is hardly common. Surely, for a less informed reader there is a wealth of facts here, which is staggering. For me, the experience of reading this book was similar to reminiscing stories I´ve heard since my childhood; a warm, fuzzy feeling of familiarity.

But the pleasure derived from reading Stanko´s own words, including his idioms, curses and deeply personal opinions is the real deal. Technically the book is a transcript of a series of conversations between Stanko and the Polish journalist Rafal Ksiezyk, who asks him a long set of leading questions and Stanko´s answers tell the story. It´s obvious that Ksiezyk did an excellent job researching Stanko´s life and his questions are both intelligent and inquisitive enough to keep the story developing smoothly, albeit not avoiding unpleasant and difficult issues and agendas.

The book also includes an informative section with a chronology and discography as well as numerous photographs.

Any way one looks at this book, it is a masterly done piece of biography, which keeps the reader on his toes at all times. Alas, available only in Polish, this book cries out for a translation into English, as Stanko´s fan base stretches today far beyond his homeland.

Absolutely brilliant book about the Soviet Jazz, written for the first time by an "outsider", who is free form the obvious limitations of the Soviet censorship. In depth analysis of the social and political influences on the music and the musicians and one of the msot interesting books about Jazz ever written. A classic!

A history of the early years Norwegian Jazz. Text in Norwegian with a summary in English.

Excellent account of Jazz in the pivotal years by writer / musician Rex Stewart, who played trumpet with Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington.

A pictorial history of the biggest and most important Eastern European Jazz festival, the annual "Jazz Jamboree" in Warsaw.

This is a collection of conversations between the author and the renowned Polish Jazz pianist / composer Adam Makowicz, which constitute a biography of Makowicz but also his credo as to the music he prefers to play and his musical goals and aspirations.

Makowicz talks about his childhood in Silesia, his early musical education and later his move to Krakow, Warsaw and eventually the USA, where he lives now. People familiar with the Polish Jazz scene will find his memories fascinating, as Makowicz was often at the epicenter of the turbulent local scene in the 1960s and 1970s, playing in some of the first-class ensembles along such great musician like Michal Urbaniak, Tomasz Stanko and many others.

He also presents the story of his emigration to the USA and his way to success there, being in fact the only Polish Jazz musician, who managed to become successfully assimilated into the US scene.

Overall it is a fascinating read and another piece of the Polish Jazz history, which deserves to be told and interests many Jazz lovers around the world. Of course the fact that the book is in Polish makes its accessibility quite limited

Very similar in format to the books by Joynson, but concentrating on Psychedelia and less detailed. Still a major work and a must for record collectors!

A very good book, which presents the history of Prog from its conception to this very day. The only problem is that the author, although very eloquent, is also very strongly opinionated, and in case you don´t agree with his opinions, you´ll hate this book (or yourself). Still, a very important piece of writing and a must for every Prog fan.

There are scores of books about The Doors and Jim Morrison, but this one is really special in many ways. It´s a serious attempt to analyze their music and lyrics as Art and in comparison to other Art contemporary to theirs. A truly encyclopedic wealth of facts and songs lyrics, with a detail description / overview of all their 6 studio albums, track by track and in chronological order. This is an excellent example of how a book about a group should be written, although of course the gossip chasers won´t like this one.

Although not the first and not the only book written about the seminal SF band Jefferson Airplane, Tamarkin´s work, written from a historic perspective, is probably the best of them all. Based on extensive interviews with the band´s members and well researched, the book presents a realistic picture of the band´s history, it´s ups and downs and its streak of genius. A most fascinating reading from cover to cover and a great document of the era.

An autobiography of Dallas Taylor, the drummer of Crosby, Stills Nash & Young. His life is a familiar story of drugs, sex and rock ´n´ roll, with his life nearly destroyed by the lifestyle led by Rock stars.

A brief history of Jazz and the emergence of Jazz-Rock Fusion.

This is one of the first books to be published about John Coltrane and remains one of the best till this day. Basically a biography - it traces Coltrane´s life - it is also much more then just a biography - it tries to understand the analyse the psychology of the musical genius and his struggle to express his burning mind with the limitations intrinsic to usage of a musical instrument. Fascinating reading all through!

A directory of Jazz festivals.

An overview of the Hungarian Jazz scene with biographies of leading musicians and other information.

Second part of Unterberger´s excellent history of the emergence of American Rock from it´s Folk and Folk-Rock roots. Very well written and superbly researched, as always, this is a must for any serious Rock fan, who wishes to understand the genealogy of the genre.

Excellent book by American Rock critic Richie Unterberger, who is definitely the best writer abuot Rock currently active in the US and about the only one with a broader and intelligent view on music. This is the first volume about American Rock in the mid to late 1960s, which covers the shift from Folk to Folk-Rock between 1965 and 1966., starting with Bob Dylan´s first appearence with his electric band at 1965 Newport Festival. Extremely well researched, this is a classic example of how books about Rock should be written.

Unterberger is a senior editor of the All Music Guide to Rock and a very knowledgeable writer. This book tells the stories of the lesser known musicians and groups of the Rock genre, which by no means makes them less significant. Fascinating reading and a potential eye-opener (or perhaps ear-opener) for all music lovers who missed some of these artists´ sounds. Recommended!

The second volume of what seems to be a "series" and a companion to the one just above. Much the same format concentrating again on the unsung heros of the genre, although some of the names are pretty well known to a serious fan. Based on many interviews with the artists and spiced with the author´s in-depth comments, this is definitely worth reading and full of valuable facts and important observations. Recommended!

A collection of Jazz writings by French critic / writer Boris Vian, translated by great American Jazz writer Mike Zwerin, who lives in Paris.

An instruction book on Jazz harmony by Austrain Jazz musician Joe Viera.

A history of Jazz by Austrain Jazz musician and writer Joe Viera.

An overview of the Finnish Jazz scene with biographies of leading musicians and other information.

A Polish encyclopedia of Jazz and popular music, with many entries on Polish and East European artists.

One of the strangest, biggest, most serious and most frustrating books about music ever written. This monumental work is in fact a philosophical / political treatise about socialism and class struggle, all based on Zappa´s enormous body of work. The author assumes that Frank is a true prophet waving political flags, which to most people is questionable at best and totally weird. However, one can not ignore the intellectual scale of this book and the linguistic skills of the author, which to a patient and well trained reader can be insightful and even enjoyable at times. I´d recommend this book with mixed feelings to a very selective audiences only.

A detailed discography of trumpeter Buck Clayton.

A biography by one of the most influential and legendary Rock bands Cream. Richly illustrated by great photographs and well written by British critic Chris Welch.

A sort of autobiography by John Lennon, complied from his Rolling Stone interviews with author Jann Wenner. A must to Beatles fans, but including a lot of background information about the British scene in the 1960´s.

A detailed Finnish Jazz discography.

A miniature encyclopedia of Jazz.

Superb book about the British Jazz scene scanning the most important and revolutionary period in its history, during which British Jazz emerged as the leading representative of the European Jazz, emancipated from the early limitations intrinsic to the American influences. The author analyses the influences inherited from the earlier periods and the emerging wave of new talent and inspiration, all leading to the formation of a formidable decade of truly magnificent music. The social and political changes that took place at the time are also taken into account, providing the proper background to the evolving story. Meticulously researched and based on numerous interviews with the musicians, the book present a coherent history and an enlightening overview of the period. An absolute must to any serious fan / researcher of this phenomenon and a breathtaking reading experience.

The history of modern Jazz, when the music turned into Free Jazz. A great book by one of the best Jazz writers.

A brief but excellent history of Jazz by one of the best Jazz writers.

A collection of essays about Jazz by some of the leading expert in the field.

Wilmer is a gifted UK writer and photographer and her writings rank high among her many admirers. In this book she explores in depth the new "black" music, as she calls the US free jazz scene (not entirely accurate of course). She writes with wit, style and enormous insight and captures the scene in many aspects, such as individual musical styles, recording industry business and the sociological implications of the music. She is also one of the first to point out the role of women in music in general and free jazz especially. A classic!

A collection of interviews Wilmer conducted with prominent jazz figures over the years, accompanied by her beautiful photographs. She has an unusual talent for bringing unapproachable musicians out of their protective shells, making the interviews evocative and yet avoiding the sensationalism. There is an atmosphere of sadness omnipresent to some extent, as musician´s lives can, and most often are, difficult and frustrating. Serious reading and an important document!

Brilliant autobiography by British writer / protographer Valerie Wilmer, told boldly and with no inhibitions.

Brilliant autobioagraphy by Beach Boy Brian Wilson, one of the most mysterious figures of Rock. The tale is detailed and full of complex self-examination. The usual drug related problems and the fight to stay sane are described emotionally and with great detail again. Fascinating read!

A painstankingly compiled discography of Polish Rock from it´s earliest days and up to the date of publication. Inacludes over 500 groups and thousands of musicians, who appear on the 6500 albums included in the book. This is a great discographical tool as well as an eye opener to poeple, who know little about Rock behind the Iron Curtain and how extensive it was.

This is an autobiography by one of Rock´s best know musicians, Ron Wood. In his own words Ronnie tell the story of his journey in the excessive world of Rock ´N´ Roll, from the early days with Jeff Beck, The Faces and then for the last thirty years as a Rolling Stone.

There are plenty of facts and the storyline is presented coherently, which is rarely the case with Rock autobiographies. Every reader will probably find something for himself as this is a first hand story about the history of Rock told by a man who was there if the front trenches.

Quite an enjoyable read!

This is exactly what one would expect from Frank - a book as unusual as his music and as brilliant. A sort of an autobiography, but in his unique way, with some hilarious passages and some very serious comments on life, art and politics. "Destroying the boundaries of the acceptable" is a great quote about Frank and this book is just another proof of that.

This is an updated version of this book first published in 1984. Musician´s biographies tend to be really the worst possible trash, therefore this one is a true exception (that proves the rule). Intelligently written (by Zimmer) and accompanied by hundreds of photographs by Henry Diltz, one of the best (ever!) Rock photographers, this book is a treasure and a genuine pleasure to hold in your hands. This edition brings things up to date through 1999 and if you are interested in those 3 master musicians or in Rock music in general, this is a must!

An autobiography of American Jazz musician and writer Mike Zwerin, who lives in Paris. Very well written and continuosly funny, this is a great reading experince.

An extraordinary tale of Jazz history during WWII, when Jazz existed and even flourished underground in the occupied Europe, Nazi Germany and even in Nazi concentration camps.