Reference

Classic Jazz explores the birth and early development of a truly American art form. Scott Yanow's insightful essays describe the very beginnings of jazz, as well as ragtime, early blues, and New Orleans jazz from 1895-1916. Jazz in the years 1917-1933 is examined in greatest detail, highlighting the careers and rating the recordings of the top performers of the day. Musicians covered include: Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Hoagy Carmichael, Bing Crosby, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Benny Goodman, Earl Hines, Gene Krupa, Glenn Miller, Jelly Roll Morton, Bessie Smith, Fats Waller and dozens more. Also includes a listing of recommended books and videos on classic jazz, and 40 black-and-white photos.

Offering essays by the world's top experts in a full-color, coffee-table quality book, this is the first work to tell the complete story of the classical guitar and its repertoire, players and makers - from its 19th century European roots to modern international interpretations. This handsome softcover volume features lavish photography of classical guitars made by the best luthiers in the world. Additional essays cover use of the classical guitar in pop music, different playing and teaching techniques, the collectors' market, and the science of the guitar. It also features profiles of legendary artists such as Andrs Segovia, Julian Bream and John Williams, plus a full discography, a glossary, an index, a bibliography, and a guitar measurement chart.

Of all the paths available to today's musicians, the life of the singer-songwriter remains one of the most alluring and popular. This handbook is the ultimate guide for the modern singer-songwriter, full of real-world advice and encouragement for both aspiring and accomplished troubadours. The founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine, Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers draws on his own experiences as a performing songwriter and interviews with artists such as Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, Arlo Guthrie, Chrissie Hynde and Paul Simon to offer an invaluable companion for the journey from idea to song to stage and studio. Also includes inside info from managers, agents, lawyers and record execs. A lucid, well-written, fact-stuffed work. - Bruce Cockburn

This fully updated and expanded book is not about how the music business should work, but how it does work. Industry insider Moses Avalon tells it like it is - how producers dip into budgets, artists steal songs, lawyers write contracts in code - and shows you how to survive these and other career-stifling situations. Deconstructing actual major and indie-label record deals, this book dissects each party's involvement and offers perspective on their actual roles, how much they get paid, and what their agendas really are. Engineers, managers, producers, artists, labels and lawyers each take their turn in the hot seat. It also outlines realistic alternatives for newcomers, such as baby production deals and vanity labels. This third edition includes: an entire chapter comparing ASCAP and BMI - a publishing first * new insights for indie artists, including the lowdown on digital-distribution scams and independent A&R * information on new legislation and its impact on sampling and other legal matters * new music-industry family trees that reflect recent consolidation and reorganization * 80 pages of new material * and much more.

An educational and entertaining look at professional studio work from the vantage point of a veteran session vocalist. Confessions tackles topics that will help readers define, improve and maintain a professional studio career. This book takes the reader from the first steps of researching, networking and preparing for a career as a session singer to building their career strategically. Tips for communicating effectively with the audio engineer, the client and the producer are covered, including definitions of commonly used studio terms. Specific techniques and gear that enhance a vocalist's performance are explained to the reader in detail. Interspersed between the tips and trade secrets are entertaining anecdotes to give the reader real world examples and insight as they relate to the pertinent chapter topics.

Hip-hop is the biggest youth movement in the world today, and leading the way is the new sound of the South, exemplified by platinum and multi-platinum artists like OutKast, Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, Ludacris, Ying Yang Twins and 8Ball and MJG. This fascinating book reveals where Dirty South hip-hop came from and where it's heading. It explores the hopes, struggles, and frustrations of performers and producers, and guides you to the best in Southern hip-hop on CD and DVD, in magazines, and on the web. If you want to know where the South is taking music, you need this book. Includes foreword by Mississippi rapper David Banner.

The definitive, unauthorized biography of Jeff Beck! This well-researched, enlightening book positions Jeff Beck's astonishing achievements - like the pioneering of feedback - within the musical climate of the times. Chronicling his incarnations before and with the Yardbirds, the Jeff Beck Group and beyond, the book describes in detail: Beck's favored Fender guitars; passion for hot rods; relationships with Rod Stewart, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy and other artists; love of rockabilly; recording collaborations ranging from Donovan to Tina Turner; landmark solo and instrumental work; and much more. Includes a wealth of personal, musical and historical detail, great photos, and a comprehensive discography.

Written by Chris Welch, former Melody Maker journalist and Cream confidante, this newly-researched book is the first full account of rock's premiere three-man supergroup: guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Jack Bruce, and drummer Ginger Baker. From Cream's formation in 1966 to their breakup in 1968, the book analyzes the group's working methods and offers detailed descriptions of all their recordings. A special section explores the musical interactions of Clapton, Bruce and Baker, plus key songwriters Bruce and Pete Brown. With rare full-color photos throughout, it also includes a complete discography, studio sessionography, and diary of live shows.

Mixerman is a recording engineer working with a famous producer on the debut album of an unknown band with a giant recording budget. Mixerman is supposed to be writing about recording techniques, but somehow, through that prism, he has hit upon a gripping story. Like all great narratives, Mixerman's diary has many anti-heroes for whom we, the readers, can have nothing but contempt. The band consists of the four most dislikable human beings you can imagine. The singer is vain and pretentious. The guitarist is a serious depressive. The drummer is as dumb as cotton, and the bassist is merely mean and petty, making him the only one that Mixerman can stand. All four of them hate each other's guts, and they haven't even been on tour yet. Mixerman takes you through the recording process of a bidding war band in over their heads with a famous record producer (also in over his head). Many find Mixerman's diary entries side-splittingly funny. Some find them maddening. And a select few feel they are the most despicable accountings of record-making ever documented.

Danny Gatton was a players' guitar player, hailed by both Rolling Stone and Guitar Player as the greatest unknown guitarist anywhere. His legend has only grown since his untimely suicide in 1994, along with appreciation for his blinding speed, effortless genre-hopping, flawless technique, and never-ending appetite for tinkering and problem-solving. Drawing from first-hand interviews with dozens of friends, family members and fellow musicians, Unfinished Business places Gatton's musical contributions into context, and documents his influence on those peers who admired him most, including Albert Lee, Vince Gill, Arlen Roth and Lou Reed. 290 pages, 6 inch. x 9 inch. Danny Gatton comes closer than anyone else to being the best guitar player that ever lived. - Steve Vai