Jazz

Bibliographic Information:
Myers, Walter Dean. Jazz. 2006. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York, NY : Holiday House. ISBN 0823415457.

Summary:
Jazz is a book of poetry explaining the origins of jazz music.   Poems and illustrations touch on be-bop and blues influences as well as the different unique instruments involved in playing jazz and some of the musical legends associated with the genre. 

Critical Analysis:
The book's introduction informs us  as to what jazz is - "an approach to music that is exciting and creative - one that relies on improvisation and spontaneity" and tells us of the many different styles of jazz including bebop, cool jazz, free jazz, fusion and swing. We're told that improvisation and rhythm are two crucial elements to this style of music and it's rich, embattled history is shared.  The history and importance of jazz in the lives of African-Americans is especially moving.

The glossary of jazz terms and the jazz timeline included are very detailed and helpful, especially to readers who are not at all familiar with the different styles of jazz or it's rich history. We learn that in 1921, jazz was actually banned in Zion, Illinois and one of the many other jazz milestones mentioned, for instance, is in 1945 when Miles Davis left Juilliard to play with Charlie Parker.  What an historic moment!

The vivid, popping illustrations of jazz men and women and their instruments make the lines nearly jump off the page at readers.  The soul in their faces and the tilts and lean of their bodies make us nearly able to hear the music they're playing. 

The rhythm and rhyme of these poems beg for reading aloud.   The one titled Be-Bop says "Oh be-bop be-bop, oh whee, OH WHEEE!, don't you dig I'm free?" and later "And the melody I'm finding goes screa-min', goes screamin', goes screa-screa-screamin' to the moon!"  It just sounds like a jazz melody with all the exagerrated sounds. 

The emotional imagery provided in selections such as "Session II" when Myers writes: "The drummer man is working, his rhythm got me on my knees.  I'm playing E-flat minor on my saxophone but I still know I got to go home all alone.  So have mercy, mercy, mercy, have mercy, Mr. Slide Trombone."  You can just imagine this sad sack of a man ready to cry in his drink over the loneliness that's tearing him apart.  It's not just honky-tonky music that makes men (and women) cry in their beer and demonstrating hat provides a sense of comraderie among all those of us, regardless of race, sex or age, who feel the same pain.  Music, specifically jazz as illustrated here, is a universal language we can all relate to.

Book Review Excerpts:
* Starred Review */ Gr 5-9 – "Expanding on Blues Journey (Holiday House, 2003), this talented father and son have produced new poetry and paintings to explore a wider repertoire of jazz forms. An introduction provides historical and technical background, briefly touching on influences, improvisation, rhythm, and race. Spreads then pulsate with the bold, acrylic-and-ink figures and distorted perspectives that interpret the multiple moods and styles set forth in the text." -  Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library --Wendy Lukehart (Reviewed September 1, 2006) (School Library Journal, vol 52, issue 9, p233).

* Starred Review */ The father-and-son team behind blues journey creates a scintillating paean to jazz. Walter Dean Myers infuses his lines (and the rests between them) with so much savvy syncopation that readers can't help but be swept up in the rhythms...a cogent introduction, selective glossary and chronology round out this mesmerizing verbal and visual riff on a uniquely American art form. All ages." (Sept.) --Staff (Reviewed August 7, 2006) (Publishers Weekly, vol 253, issue 31, p57).

"This offering stands as a welcome addition to the literature of jazz: In a genre all too often done poorly for children, it stands out as one of the few excellent treatments." (Picture book/poetry. 8+) (Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2006).


Awards:
A Coretta Scott King Honor Book, Illustrator Category, 2007.


Connections/Further Activities:
I think it would be interesting to read this for a story time and then play some classic jazz songs to illustrate just what type of music jazz really is. 


Title Read-A-Likes:
Spirit seeker: John Coltrane's musical journey by Gary Golio
Black cat bone by J. Patrick Lewis
Dizzy by Jonah Winter
Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler
This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt
Jazzmatazz! by Stephanie Calmenson