I don't know that How to Listen to Jazz succeeds in its goal to be a "lively, accessible introduction to the art of listening to jazz." Sure, its early chapters break down the key components that characterize a jazz performance (rhythm, phrasing, timbre, spontaneity, and so on) and offer friendly tips about how to listen for these elements. I suppose that a neophyte might track down Gioia's suggested recordings and listen to them carefully. To me, his analysis seems more suited to an existing jazz fan who wants to think more about how musicians create the effects they already appreciate.
In many ways, the first half of the book is a streamlined version of Gioia's History of Jazz: how jazz grew out of the blues and ragtime, how it differs from the classical tradition. The second half devolves into a list of jazz masters. I appreciated the concision in the first couple of chapters, but felt like the later chapters became too vague. I also needed a quick way to track down the recordings he mentions in the text.
In many ways, the first half of the book is a streamlined version of Gioia's History of Jazz: how jazz grew out of the blues and ragtime, how it differs from the classical tradition. The second half devolves into a list of jazz masters. I appreciated the concision in the first couple of chapters, but felt like the later chapters became too vague. I also needed a quick way to track down the recordings he mentions in the text.
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