Books

There are plenty of choices, from musicians' autobiographies, critical biographies, collections of criticism and analysis, jazz histories, and catalogs of recordings. (See below for suggestions regarding jazz art, in book or other form.) If your jazz fan has a favorite composer or performer, chances are that there is a biography in print. Some personal recommendations:

• What Jazz Is: An Insider's Guide to Understanding and Listening to Jazz (Jonny King, 1997). The best introduction to jazz for those serious enough to want to know what they are hearing, pianist King offers an effective overview of basic concepts, the essentials of key instruments, and analyzes some classic recordings that illustrate his lessons.
• Visions of Jazz (Gary Giddens, 2003). Keeping in mind that Giddens is quite opinionated, this is a comprehensive and highly literate history of jazz from its earliest days to the end of the 20^th century. Includes a CD covering key recordings that tell the story of the genre.
• Born Under the Sign of Jazz (Randi Hultin, 1997; newer editions). Randi Hultin became the jazz hostess of Norway, accidentally and then on purpose. Over several decades she provided meals and even accommodations for a who's who of American and European jazz artists passing through, and invariably there were unscheduled jam sessions in her living room—which she captured on home recording equipment. A book for anyone wanting an inside look at some of the greatest artists of our time, complete with a CD of these never-released home recordings.
• Billie Holiday: Wishing on the Moon (Donald Clarke, 2002). Among many books about Billie Holiday, this stands out as a thorough consideration of her life, her music, and the context of her life and tragic death. Enhanced by a collection of photos that tell their own story.
• Miles: The Autobiograpy (Miles Davis, 1990). An irreverent, candid autobiography of the often-controversial genius of modern jazz. Written in Davis' vernacular (if 4-letter words bother you, skip this one), the trumpeter traces his life from his childhood in East St. Louis through his baptism on the bandstand, his early bands that took bop to another galaxy, his gradual shifts to rock-fused orchestrations, and his many vices that disrupted his music and relationships. If he left anything out, we don't need to know! Worth the read not only to learn more about this artist but to see the inside of a music career and its relationship to the larger world.  A good companion is Quincy Troupe's Miles and Me, written by Davis' co-author who tells how Miles came to be written.

If your jazz fan is seriously into collecting recordings, consider a catalog such as the All Music Guide to Jazz (4^th Ed., 2002) or Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (6^th Ed., 2003).

Jazz Art
There are many options here, at all sorts of prices. Particularly online, you can find wide selections of jazz posters and original photographs. You can also find book collections of jazz photography (look for Herman Leonard, William Gottleib), LP covers, and posters. A good gift that you can give every year is a calendar—look for collections of black and white photos (e.g., the Blue Note Years).....

• Blue Note: Album Cover Art (Marsh & Callingham, 2002)
• Herman Leonard: Jazz Portraits (2000)
• In the Groove: Vintage Record Graphics, 1940-1960 (Eric Kohler, 1999)
  

Some websites for jazz photography, original art, and posters:

• www.art.com (large site for posters and original art, see "music/jazz")
• www.jazzphotos.com (site for book, photographs of William Gottleib's Golden Age of Jazz)
• www.jazzposters.com (large selection, many inexpensive reproductions)

• Blue Note Records— http://store.ropeadope.com/index_bluenote.jsp (T-shirts with Blue Note Logo and some record cover reproductions, some jazz)
• Blue Note (club)— www.bluenote.net/giftshop/ (Wide range of gift items including shirts, sweatshirts, glassware, hats, accessories)
• Downbeat's Vinyl Freak—800-535-7496 (T-shirts and sweatshirts for vinyl collectors with theVinyl Freak logo)
• Gear Ink—www.gearink.com (T-shirt reproductions of famous photos of jazz and blues legends)
• Jazzitude— www.cafepress.com/jazzitude (T-shirts with great quotes from jazz legends; mugs and other gear, too.)
• Jazziz—www.jazziz.com (t-shirts, golf shirts, several designs)
• Jazz Review— www.jazzreview.com/jazzstore.cfm (t-shirts and baseball cap from one of the most comprehensive jazz websites)
• Jazz Threads (Jazz Times)—www.jazztimes.com (T-shirts and sweatshirts of classic photos, a portion of sales is contributed to the estates of the artists)
• Village Vanguard—www.villagevanguard.com (T-shirts, baby booties, cap from the most famous jazz club of them all)

Live Music

The gift of live music will always be appreciated—and no one already has it! And the easiest way to guarantee a successful reservation is to give a gift certificate to a favorite club or concert hall. Most venues have gift certificates for purchase—just call the reservation line or go online. You can usually print out a calendar of upcoming events and tuck that into the gift card. For more extravagant options, consider tickets to a jazz festival; or plan a trip to New York, LA, Chicago, Minneapolis, Washington—or even Paris or London....and spend a few nights attending the best jazz clubs in the world.

For giving or receiving, the gift of jazz is always in season! Have a swingin' holiday!