Scott Yanow/Dave Gelly books

[Chrome]

I get the Daedalus Books catalog, and the most recent one has four books by Scott Yanow: Afro-Cuban Jazz, Classic Jazz, Bebop, and Swing.

Each book looks like it includes a mix of essays and record reviews, and each is $4.98 (marked down from $17.95 - $22.95).

I know many posters here have opinions on Yanow, and I was curious if these books would be worth picking up.

Also, the catalog has something called Masters of Jazz Saxophone, a book by Dave Gelly that shows "how jazz sax music has been sculpted in the hands of Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young," etc., etc.

Anyone heard of this one?

Thanks in advance.

[montg]

I bought the Yanow 'Swing' book a few years ago. I rarely consult it and wouldn't recommend it if you already have the Penguin guide. Coincidentally I was looking at the Gelly book at a library recently. It's oversized, nice pictures, and relatively short essays mostly by British critics who mostly well-known and respected (e.g., Richard Cook, Brian Priestly). It's an overview, rather than in depth discussion, of the great sax players. Of the two, I'd recommend the Gelly.

Edited June 5, 2004 by montg

[Christiern]

The Yanow books I have seen have been assembly-line type stuff. He seems to love compiling trivia-type lists.