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.