My Books of the Year

I haven't reviewed many books this year and, to be honest, I've only reviewed three (non-fiction) although some of our other correspondents have fared better.

However, two of the three that I have reviewed would have been high on the list even if I'd had the complete A - Z of the National Jazz Archive to choose from.

Although completely different, they are two of the most comprehensive jazz related books I have ever read.

The 750 pages of Peter Dawn's Phil Seaman 'Percussion Genius' has been so meticulously researched that there is no stone left uncovered. With the exception of Simon Spillett's Tubby Hayes - The Long Shadow of the Little Giant - I don't think any British jazz musician has had such coverage in a single book. Not surprisingly, given Hayes and Seaman's musical association, Spillett's book is the source of much of the material.

A different kettle of fish is Francesco Balena's The Scale Omnibus. Maybe not the Christmas present for the non-player but for the serious improvising musician, jazz or otherwise, it offers an insight into harmonies that are indigenous to the various cultures of the world.

400 scales in 12 different keys offer endless possibilities for either practice or performance. Awesome! 

Jazzwise's The 100 Jazz Albums That Shook the World is certainly open for debate and I doubt if everyone will go along with the order, the inclusions and the omissions. But that in itself is one of the attractions and, in actual fact, I find myself reading it over and over again and invariably changing my opinion one way or the other. Worthy of a place in your jazz library. Lance