It’s a tough call and I am still sitting here with a pile of 2005 CDs that I have not had a chance to listen to yet… so I add titles to my recommendations every day. But if pressed, I would say that my top choice for 2005 is Eldar for instrumental (a close call with Joe Lovano’s Joyous Encounter, Dave Peck’s Good Road, and Rick Germanson’s That’s All?), and for vocal music, I have to go with Fred Hersh/Kurt Elling/Kate McGarry’s amazing Leaves of Grass. I won’t even try to rank the local recordings—I have to live here!

Subscriptions

Give a gift that lasts all year—a subscription to a top jazz magazine. The most popular in the US are Jazz Times, Downbeat and Jazziz; all provide reviews of recordings, interviews with musicians, features on all aspects of jazz; Downbeat provides more coverage of blues and “beyond” while Jazz Times tends to provide more jazz news and directories of festivals and jazz education programs. Jazziz addresses jazz as a cultural entity as much as musical dimension and has the world’s largest circulation of any jazz periodical. Since die-hard jazz fans may already subscribe to one or both, you might consider some less-known publications such as Planet Jazz and Jazz Improv.

• Downbeat, www.downbeat.com (monthly, $35/year; CD reviews, artist interviews, blues and “beyond” in addition to jazz)

• Jazz Improv, www.jazzimprov.com (quarterly, $40/year; large journal with numerous CD and product reviews, artist interviews, in-depth features for fans and musicians, sampler CD included with each issue)

• Jazziz, www.jazziz.com (monthly, $70/year; mini-subscription available for 3 months; “the voice of new jazz culture,” includes reviews, news, featured artists, monthly CD sampler)

• Jazz Times, www.jazztimes.com (10 issues per year/$24; CD and product reviews, special features, artist interviews; annual education supplement and director of jazz festivals)

• Planet Jazz, (514) 931-5821 (Published twice per year; international journal published in Canada and emphasizing Canadian venues, festivals and artists. An interesting alternative to the American jazz press.)
  
  

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 (including a couple repeats from last year):

• 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.

• 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.

• Myself Among Others (George Wein, 2003). Now out in paperback so it is a bargain biography by one of the true heroes of live jazz, the founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, JVC festivals, you name it, George did it and has plenty to say regarding the historic figures and historic moments of modern jazz.

• Growing Up with Jazz (W. Royal Stokes, 2005). Stokes interviews 24 jazz musicians, high and low profile, regarding their development as artists. Insights into childhood and early career influences.

• Singing Jazz (Bruce Crowther & Mike Pinfold, 1997). A classic “biography” of jazz vocal music, historical figures, the development of various styles, profiles of legendary artists, contemporary perspectives, and a serious reference guide.

• Weather Bird: Jazz at the Dawn of the Second Century (Gary Giddens, 2004). A companion to the 2003 masterpiece, Visions of Jazz. Giddens has collected essays, reviews, and articles written over 14 years, mostly for the Village Voice.

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 (7^th Ed., 2005).

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)

Jazz Gear

A number of vendors and venues have t-shirts, hats and other items that make great gifts as well as souvenirs. Of course the first place to shop is right here at Jazz Police for that special t-shirt, mug, or bear. Other sites:

• Jazz Police— www.cafepress.com/jazzpolice (T-shirts with JP logo and image; mugs and other gear, too.)

• Blue Note Records— 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!

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