Toward Jazz

Foreword, 7

PART ONE/ ON JAZZMEN
Chapter 1 / The Bird Is Gone, 15
Chapter 2 / Why Do They Age So Badly?, 19
Chapter 3 / Why Did Ellington “Remake” His Masterpiece?, 24

PART TWO / ON CRITICISM
Chapter 4 / Letter on Evolutionism and the Role of Criticism, 35
Chapter 5 / “Where The Last Come First . . .”, 51
Chapter 6 / Letter on The Blues, Improvisation, and the Essence, 57
Chapter 7 / A Formidable Wager, 63

PART THREE / ON GROUP RELATIONS
Chapter 8 / Environment, 73
Chapter 9 / Freedom and its Limitations in Improvisation and Composition, 81

PART FOUR / ON WORKS
Chapter 10 / The Count Basie Riddle, 97
Chapter 11 / Basie’s Way, 109
Chapter 12 / Benny Carter as I See Him, 117
Chapter 13 / The “Genius” of Art Tatum, 127
Chapter 14 / Bags’ Microgroove, 135
Chapter 15 / A Rebirth of the Ellington Spirit, 151
Chapter 16 / Monk or the Misunderstanding, 156

PART FIVE /LISTENING NOTES
Chapter 17 / Commentaries on Five Improvisations, 181

PART SIX / PROSPECTS OF JAZZ
Chapter 18 / Popularity or Recognition?, 199

Appendix / Self-critical Notes and Other Particulars, 211

Index, 219