• A concise history of jazz
• The noteworthy composers and musicians, from Jelly Roll Morton and Thelonious Monk to Miles Davis and Charles Mingus
• Major performers from Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald to Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington
• Classic songs and compositions
• The most influential recordings of all time
• A complete guide to jazz terminology and lingo
• Valuable resources for the Curious Listener

The thrill of sitting in a club or concert hall hearing jazz being made is familiar to most fans. But what if you could immerse yourself in the world of the musician, where creating and performing is a profound task, and yet as routine as breathing? When writer Carl Vigeland was invited to tour with Wynton Marsalis and his septet, he was able to do just that. Vigeland's acute observations sweep us into their world as he becomes virtually part of the band. At the same time, Marsalis offers intimate meditations on home, family, creation, and performance- written in the cadence of his inimitable voice. Set on the stage, in the studio, and in great cities and small towns around the world, this richly textured narrative explores how the music is made in America today.

In this beautiful book, Pulitzer Prize--winning musician and composer Wynton Marsalis draws upon lessons he's learned from a lifetime in jazz-lessons that can help us all move to higher ground. With wit and candor he demystifies the music that is the birthright of every American and demonstrates how a real understanding of the central idea of jazz-the unique balance between self-expression and sacrifice for the common good exemplified on the bandstand-can enrich every aspect of our lives, from the bedroom to the boardroom, from the schoolroom to City Hall. Along the way, Marsalis helps us understand the life-changing message of the blues, reveals secrets about playing-and listening-and passes on wisdom he has gleaned from working with three generations of great musicians. Illuminating and inspiring, Moving to Higher Ground is a master class on jazz and life, conducted by a brilliant American artist.

In "To a Young Jazz Musician, the renowned jazz musician and Pulitzer Prize--winning composer Wynton Marsalis gives us an invaluable guide to making good music-and to leading a good life.
Writing from the road "between the bus ride, the sound check, and the gig,"
Marsalis passes on wisdom gained from experience, addressed to a young musician coming up-and to any of us at any stage of life. He writes that having humility is a way to continue to grow, to listen, and to learn; that patience is necessary for developing both technical proficiency and your own art rather than an imitation of someone else's; and that rules are indispensable because "freedom lives in structure."
He offers lessons learned from his years as a performer and from his great forebears Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, and others; he explores the art of swing; he discusses why it is important to run toward your issues, not away; and he talks about what to do when your integrity runs up against the lack thereof in others and in our culture. He poetically expresses our need for healers: "All of it tracks back to how you heal your culture, one patient at a time, beginning with yourself."
This is a unique book, in which a great artist offers his personal thoughts, both on jazz and on how to live a better, more original, productive, and meaningful life. To a Young Jazz Musician is sure to be treasured by readers young and old, musicians, lovers of music, and anyone interested in being mentored by one of America's most influential, generous, and talented artists.

"From the Hardcover edition.

Marsalis on Music, the illustrated companion book-with-CD to Wynton Marsalis's groundbreaking television series, is the perfect introduction to the joy of music, both classical and jazz, for families, young people, and music-hungry readers of all ages. In chapters that correspond to the four one-hour programs in the series, and a Listening Guide and audio CD prepared exclusively for the book, Wynton Marsalis uses wonderfully appealing examples and analogies to communicate the fundamentals of music. Whether likening the rhythmic structures of music to playing basketball, teaching sonata form through a story about chasing a pet hamster through a shopping mall, or revealing the connections between classical music and jazz, Marsalis on Music makes so-called "difficult" music vivid, immediately graspable, and most of all fun. Produced by an Emmy Award-winning team from Sony Classical Film & Video, the television and home video series "Marsalis on Music" was shot at the Tanglewood Music Center with the participation of Seiji Ozawa, Yo-Yo Ma, the Wynton Marsalis Septet, the Liberty Brass Band, the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, and an excited audience of young people. Its premiere around the world in 1995 includes broadcasts in the United States, Great Britain, Japan, and Europe.