This conversation is hosted by JJA Board Member and Chair of our Book Committee, Bob Blumenthal. Bob, along with JJA members Fiona Ross, Todd Jenkins and Katch Cartwright, share some of their book recommendations for you to consider for those on your 2025 holiday nice list. Maybe a few of the naughty people deserve some of these, too. 

The JJA’s book committee votes on Book Award nominees everyJanuary and February. The recommendations herein do not reflect any prejudgments by the committee nor should this episode be taken as any preview of what's to come with the awards. 

Here is your shopping list of books and music discussed in this episode:

Books Discussed in Detail

  1. Writing Jazz: Conversations with Critics and Biographers by Sasha Feinstein
  2. Guide to Jazz in Japanby Michael Pronko
  3. Focus on Women in Jazz by Guy le Querrec
  4. The Story of Jazz by Marshall Stearns 
  5. Jazz: Its Evolution and Essence by André Hodeir
  6. The Life and Writings of Ralph J. Gleason: Dispatches from the Front by Don Armstrong
  7. Going Back to T-Town: The Ernie Fields Territory Big Band by Carmen Fields
  8. Master of the Drums: Gene Krupa and the Music He Gave the World by Elizabeth J. Rosenthal 
  9. Cross Rhythms: An Introspective into the Life and Musicality of Joe Chambers by Joe Chambers and Cristian Schorr
  10. Oceans of Time: The Musical Autobiography of Billy Hart by Billy Hart and Ethan Iverson
  11. The Jazz Barn: The Music Inn, the Berkshires, and the Place of Jazz in American Life by John Gennari
  12. Becoming Ella Fitzgeraldby Judith Tick
  13. Stomp Off, Let's Go: The Early Years of Louis Armstrong by Ricky Riccardi
  14. Song for Someone: The Musical Life of Kenny Wheeler by Brian Shaw and Nick Smart
  15. Sax Expat: The Biography of Don Byas by Con Chapman
  16. Black Mystery School Pianists and Other Writingsby Matthew Shipp
  17. Run the Song: Writing About Running, About Listeningby Ben Ratliff

Books Referenced

  1. Sophisticated Giant by Maxine Gordon (about Dexter Gordon)
  2. Gene Krupa: His Life and Times by Bruce Crowther
  3. Rhythm Man: Chick Webb and the Beat that Changed America by Stephanie Stein Crease
  4. The Swing Era by Gunther Schuller 

Albums Referenced 

  1. Friday and Saturday Night at the Blackhawk by Miles Davis (includes essay by Ralph J. Gleason)
  2. Dizzy on the French Rivieraby Dizzy Gillespie (includes essay by Ralph J. Gleason)


Support for The JJA comes in part from the Jazz Foundation of America, providing emergency assistance, healthcare, and performance opportunities to performers, composers and others in need. Visit jazzfoundation.org.

This podcast is made possible with the support of Jazz Road, a national initiative of South Arts, which is funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with additional support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Don’t miss new episodes of The Buzz. Make sure you follow us wherever you listen to podcasts. 

For more from the Jazz Journalists Association, go to JJANews.org.

Rss Apple Podcaster
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör The Jazz Journalists Association. Innehållet i podden är skapat av The Jazz Journalists Association och inte av, eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.