Description
Book SynopsisRich with the voices of musicians, producers, promoters, and others on the scene during the decades following World War II, this book views jazz's evolution through the prism of technological advances, social transformations, changes in the law, economic trends, and more.
Trade Review"A highly engaging, thoroughly researched book." All About Jazz "'Why Jazz Happened' Makes Its Points Like a Snazzy Lawyer in the Courtroom: Zip, Zam, Zot... Students and fans of jazz will come away enlightened about a huge part of the jazz story that has been mostly untold, before this otherwise intelligent and well-reported book was published." -- Will Layman Popmatters.com "A needed historical overview... Myers presents his argument of 'why jazz happened' in a concise, powerfully convincing style... Highly recommended." -- G. A. Akkerman, University of South Carolina Upstate Choice "Myers has managed to come up with a fresh take on the [history of jazz's evolution]." -- Willard Manus LivelyArts.com "Excellent new jazz history... A refreshingly concrete volume on a genre that stubbornly, sometimes proudly, refuses to be defined." The New York City Jazz Record "Why Jazz Happened contains a treasure trove of insider information ... a valuable addition to readings in jazz history." -- Mark C. Gridley Notes
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1. Record Giants Blink 2. DJs, Promoters, and Bebop 3. G.I. Bill and Cool 4. Speed War, Tape, and Solos 5. Suburbia and West Coast Jazz 6. BMI, R&B, and Hard Bop 7. Bias, Africa, and Spiritual Jazz 8. Invasion and Jazz-Pop 9. Alienation and the Avant-Garde 1. Lights, Volume, and Fusion 11. Jazz Hangs On Notes Index
