In The Last Balladeer, author Gregg Akkerman skillfully reveals the life-long achievements and occasional missteps of Johnny Hartman as an African-American artist dedicated to his craft. In the first full-length biography and discography to chronicle the rhapsodic life and music of Johnny Hartman, the author completes a previously missing dimension of vocal-jazz history by documenting Hartman as the balladeer who crooned his way into so many hearts. Backed by impeccable research but conveyed in a conversational style, this book will interest not only musicians and scholars but any fan of the Great American Songbook and the singers who brought it to life.

First Published in 2005. The Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound, 2nd edition, is an A to Z reference work covering the entire history of recorded sound from Edison discs to CDs and MP3. Entries range from technical terms (Acoustics; Back Tracking; Quadraphonic) to recording genres (blues, opera, spoken word) to histories of industry leaders and record labels to famed recording artists (focusing on their impact on recorded sound). Entries range in length from 25-word definitions of terms to 5000 word essays. Drawing on a panel of experts, the general editor has pulled together a wealth of information. The volume concludes with a complete reference bibliography and a deep index.

John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie (October 21, 1917–January 6, 1993) was one of the most recognizable and popular figures in American jazz history. The youngest of nine children, Gillespie owed much of his success to an elementary school teacher who worked to harness his energy and anger by recruiting him for the school band—and he was hooked. His dedication and talent helped him mature into one of the country’s best trumpet players. In the 1940s, the trumpet virtuoso and respected improviser teamed up with musician Charlie Parker to lay the foundations for bebop. His beret, horn–rimmed glasses, bent horn, puffed-out cheeks, and sense of humor made him a fan favorite throughout his sixty–year career as a musical innovator, mentor, and cultural ambassador.

This dictionary of jazz attempts to cover every jazz style and era. It contains 5000 articles including biographies of many performers, information about clubs, festivals and recordings. Reading lists and discographies as well as music examples are also featured. There are many illustrations to help convey the essence of a particular tradition or of a particular's performer's work.

The History of Jazz is a story rich with innovation, experimentation, controversy and emotion, this coffee table book concept provides an ideal setting to share the cultural history of the people and places that helped shape the development and progression of the history of jazz. And is presented in an eclectic format to preserve the works of the original authors of this subject matter. The Jazz Sippers Group presents these collective writings through interpretive techniques designed to educate and entertain, and seeks to preserve information and resources associated with the origins of the history of jazz. The musicians are the men and women who, made and still make the music, the leaders as well as the sidemen, and side women who have and continue to make jazz a popular music.

This is a biographical and critical guide to performers and writers in a wide variety of musical fields, including pop, rock, rap, jazz, rhythm and blues, folk, New Age, country, gospel, and reggae. Each biannual volume covers 80-100 musicians.