A Bibliography of Jazz

American Folklore Society, Philadelphia, first edition, 1954. Cloth, 8vo,. xiii, 145 pp. 3,437 entries. The bibliography covers books and articles to about 1950. Entries are arranged alphabetically by author, and coded into 32 categories. There is a subject index, basd on these categories, and a further index to articles from individual periodicals. There is an Appendix of Jazz magazines many already defunct by the time the bibliography appeared). From the introduction: "The literature of jazz is as varied and exciting as the music itself, for not only has a group of competent critics grown up around the idiom but it has been, since the 20's, traditionally fair game for any writer with paper and an outlet for his self-expression. A critical look at this literature reveals much that is shoddy, poorly written and poorly conceived, and yet much that brings an understanding not only of the music but of the cultural milieu in which it has functioned for so many years. The cycles of change in public opinion alone are well worth a detailed interest, but it is the prevailing, vigorous atmosphère, the emergence of defined lines of development, the changes in attitude of musicians and writers alike that make jazz bibliography what it is. The range of content is enormous - from analysis and appreciation of the music to the problem of women in jazz, from history to personal controversies among jazz musicians, from discography to cartoons - and this very diversity brings the vitality and enthusiasm of the music itself to the published literature. Covers somewhat sunned, otherwise Good.