Verve - The Sound of America book

[thirdtry]

http://www.thamesandhudson.com/Verve/9780500517147

The story of Verve Records is the story of jazz. Verve signed practically every major jazz artist of the fifties and sixties and is home to some of the greatest music ever recorded. Norman Granz, the record label’s founder, also organised hugely influential, high-profile, racially integrated jam sessions, first at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and then at venues around the world.

This volume, published in anticipation of the 70th anniversary of the first Jazz at the Philharmonic concert, is the ultimate guide to the artists and the music that made Verve great and jazz cool.

Verve have opened up their archive and provided access to some of their rarest material. Features on the label’s key artists and key albums are guaranteed to interest both curious newcomers and dedicated fans – illustrated with both iconic and unseen photographs from some of the finest jazz photographers, classic cover art and ephemera, and insightful timelines.

Coming in November according to Amazon.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Hm. I've said some harsh words about Verve and Granz in the past, and Chuck has complained about the lack of innovation in his recordings. But getting the JATP box recently has changed my view of Granz' early days. The first JATP session led the way to the honking sax players of the late forties. OK, a lot of people don't like that stuff, but it was innovative all right. And in the forties, to have Bird on stage with Roy Eldridge, Hawk & Prez was taking a pretty big risk.

It's later that Granz became very conservative.

But when Creed Taylor took over, the label began to move towards smooooothe jazz; long before it was called that. Again, an innovation you may not like...

MG

[A Lark Ascending]

I'd be interested in reading a £7.99 account. But £45 (I know that's tied in with pictures)!

"The story of Verve Records is the story of jazz."

Hmm - one of the many parts of the story, perhaps. Marketing hype gone mad.

Edited August 10, 2013 by A Lark Ascending