Jazz is one of the truest American art forms that have gone on to represent American pride on the world stage. From the early ragtag and bebop years to the swinging tunes and brassy punches, jazz has grown to become a global phenomenon that the world has fallen in love with many times over. Whether to bring back the memories of leisurely afternoons spent listening to records or just to kick back and unwind with the soothing melodies, here are some gift ideas that jazz enthusiasts will surely be swinging to for the holidays.
To many of us, the first lady of jazz would have to be Billy Holiday. Though she struggled with many social taboos during her life, she’s left us with some of the most memorable and romantic material that early jazz has ever come up with. Her rich, sultry voice floats through each heartfelt rendition of classics like God Bless the Child and Come Rain or Come Shine. Thousands upon thousands of singers have come between Holiday and today, but very few-if not none-could even equal or better yet eclipse the finesse and emotion that she brought to h each performance. We love her, and a new compilation Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday captures the essence of jazz and the struggles of that seemingly distant era that Holiday lived through. Even in a male-dominated, segregated society, Holiday proves to us that genuine artistry and talent transcends all borders, even the test of time.
While Holiday may have been the quintessential voice of jazz, the undisputed greats of instrumental jazz were Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. The 2000 reissue of The Great Summit: The Complete Sessions brings together these two trailblazing geniuses in their 1961 studio recordings spanning two CDs. Louis’ brilliant improvisations takes the jazz trumpet to unimaginable heights and Duke’s effortless, flowing piano make up this incredible tandem and give us the rare treat of having two jazz legends playing together and just making music. Included in the set are rehearsal takes of some tracks that provide us a rare glimpse into the song development process behind the polished tracks, and provides some insight into the minds and musical depth of two brilliant artists. This recording is a treasure trove, with two of jazz’s most brilliant gems and simply some great music. It’s also sure to be a gem in any jazz enthusiast’s collection.
John Szwed’s Jazz 101: A Complete Guide For Learning and Loving Jazz is a fantastic book for the novice jazz enthusiast. It introduces us to the structures and theories that make jazz so special and unique, and gives a concise overview of the historical development of this art form. Another great read would be What Jazz Is: An Insider’s Guide to Understanding and Listening to Jazz. It’s written by Jonny King, a pianist who’s actually put out some jazz records, so he knows what he’s talking about. He even analyzes several jazz classics to elaborate our understanding of jazz.
For those who love jazz and photography, The Blue Note Years: The Jazz Photography of Francis Wolff is a beautiful collection of photographs taken by Wolff, an excellent photographer and cofounder of the legendary jazz label Blue Note. Get the hardbound version of the book and you’ll enjoy a spectacular volume of black and white photographs of many of Blue Note’s catalog of artists, including Herbie Hancock and John Coltrane. Many pieces are candid shots that show the artists at work, kicking back during lighter moments or engaged in reflective trains of thought. The photos convey as much intensity and emotion as any jazz tune would, and it makes for a great coffee table or photography book.
For an essential primer on jazz, why not give The Best of Blue Note, Vols. 1 and 2? Blue Note is one of the most established jazz labels and through the years, they’ve amassed a catalog of some of the most talented artists in the genre. This set introduces you to a wide variety of jazz instrumentalists by some of the most preeminent artists, including John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Donald Byrd, and Art Blakey, among others. This is pure, unadulterated jazz, like it was always meant to be played.
For Miles Davis fans, pick up The Miles Davis Quintet, 1965-68: The Complete Columbia Studio. This is a 6-CD box set and contains some of Davis’ most searing power, not to mention the all-star band, including Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, Wayne Shorter and Ron Carter. Together, they generate some of the most intense and clever pieces, innovating like never before. Music is as beautiful as it gets.
In the spirit of the season, you can also always choose to give a Christmas jazz compilation. It’s surely a delight to listen to Christmas standards redone with all the smooth, swinging flair of jazz.
Jazz is all about improvisation and personal taste, and this is true when you’re looking for a present for the jazz lover, too. I’ve recommended some of the best releases from some of jazz’s most prominent figures, but there are legions of other famous and not-so-famous musicians that make up the jazz scene. At the end of the day, it’s all a matter of taste.
