* A concise history of jazz * The noteworthy composers and musicians, from Jelly Roll Morton and Thelonious Monk to Miles Davis and Charles Mingus * Major performers from Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald to Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington * Classic songs and compositions * The most influential recordings of all time * A complete guide to jazz terminology and lingo * valuable resources for the Curious Listener

Plus: The 50 Influential Jazz CDs