CHECK IT OUT

For PBS viewers inspired by Ken Burns’ “Jazz” documentary, Newport

Beach’s public libraries are rife with resources about America’s music.

In addition to books about the country’s original art form, circulating

CDs and videos feature the artistry of numerous jazz legends.

All 10 videocassettes of Burns’ masterpiece are now available at the

Central Library. With 75 interviews, more than 500 pieces of music, 2,400

still photographs and more than 2,000 rare film clips, the 19-hour

tribute to jazz is a must-see for anyone interested in a musical journey

through the most American of musical forms.

“Jazz: A History of America’s Music,” the companion volume to the

series, follows the film episode by episode. The lavishly illustrated

collaboration with Geoffrey Ward features more than 500 previously unseen

shots of musicians and venues glimpsed in the 10-part documentary. Richly

detailed text provides background about jazz from turn-of-the-century New

Orleans to its transformation into swing, bebop and fusion.

Equally comprehensive is “Jazz, The First Century,” featuring essays

by jazz authorities, headed by Smithsonian music curator John Hasse. From

the music’s multicultural roots to its evolution into world music, this

photo-rich text covers all aspects of jazz and concludes with a list of

100 essential jazz albums.

In “Jazz 101,” Yale University music professor John Szwed takes a more

academic approach to the heritage and types of 20th century jazz. The

overview includes detailed sidebars with recommended listening, plus

exhaustive appendixes on jazz singers.

There are discussions about such mainstream artists as Miles Davis,

Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie in Francis Davis’ “Beebop and

Nothingness.” The well-known jazz critic also examines alternative

directions in contemporary jazz and a broad swath of popular music,

ranging from Tony Bennett to Michael Jackson and Prince, in his third

essay collection.

For jazz aficionados interested in one of the greatest performers of

our time, historian Joshua Berrett provides eight decades of

autobiographical writings in “The Louis Armstrong Companion.” Other

volumes about individual artists include “Groovin High: The Life of Dizzy

Gillespie,” by Alyn Shipton, and “As Though I Had Wings: The Lost

Memoir,” featuring diary entries of the late Chet Baker.

There are videos about such legends as Sarah Vaughn, Count Basie,

Billie Holiday and John Coltrane in the library’s seven-day loan

collection. For listening pleasure, the artistry of Wynton Marsalis,

on-camera host of the Burns’ series, may be heard on “Hot House Flowers.”

Other circulating CDs include fine offerings from such jazz greats as

Ella Fitzgerald, Glenn Miller and Dave Brubeck, among more than 500 sound

recordings that will keep any jazz fan from singing the blues.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams, in collaboration with

Sara Barnicle. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers

by accessing the catalog at https://www.newportbeachlibrary.org.