Cookin': Hard Bop and Soul Jazz 1954-65 - by Kenny Mathieson (Paperback)

About the Book

Includes bibliographical references (pages 375-378), discographies, and index.

Book Synopsis

Following on from Giant Steps, comes the second instalment in Kenny Mathieson's series of jazz histories.
Cookin' examines the birth and development of two of the key jazz styles of the post-war era, hard bop and its related offshoot, soul jazz. Hard bop was the most exciting jazz style of its day, and remains at the core of the modern jazz mainstream even now. It drew on the twin poles of bebop and the blues for its foundation, spiced up with gospel, Latin and rhythm and blues influences.
The book looks at the founding fathers of the form, Art Blakey and Horace Silver, and goes on to trace the music through its peak decade.
This reissue includes an additional chapter devoted to Jackie McLean.

Review Quotes

"Mathieson writes well, and his insights into the music are keen." --Jazz Times

"Mathieson's descriptions of what they brought to the bandstand and the recording studio are fondly graphic, in well-chosen phrases . . . extremely readable." --Jazz Review

About the Author

Kenny Mathieson is the author of Giant Steps: Bebop and the Creators of Modern Jazz 1945-1965 and Cookin': Hard Bop and Soul Jazz 1954-65. He was born near Glasgow, and now lives in the Highlands of Scotland. He studied American and English literature at the University of East Anglia, graduating with a PhD in 1983. He has been a freelance writer since 1982, and writes on jazz, classical and folk music for several publications, as well as contributing to numerous reference books.