[Dixielandjazz] Jazz Book Club

[fred spencer]

Dear Jim et al,
This was an English monthly subscription, reprints service of the 
Readers Union Ltd., which ran from 1956 to 1967  Choices were made by "a 
distinguished panel of selectors". The 66 volumes published, and several 
"Extras", covered almost all the good jazz writing of the time. These 
inexpensive but sturdy volumes often appear for moderate prices in used 
book shops and catalogues. More details, and a full list of the books 
published, is in "The Guinness Jazz Companion" by Peter Clayton and 
Peter Gammond. Terkel's "Giants of Jazz" was first published by Thomas 
Y. Crowell in 1957 and has recently been reprinted. The somewhat 
unjustified comment of "For younger readers" follows its listing in 
Donald Kennington and Danny L. Read's book, "The Literature of Jazz" 
(1980)..
I have adapted these comments from a series of book reviews I wrote, 
which appeared in "Tailgate Ramblings", the monthly publication of the 
Potomac River Jazz Club. I am considering putting these together with 
others I have compiled in a book entitled "Jazz Reference Books. A 
Selected Check List". I would be interested in knowing  whether any DJML 
members consider this a worthwhile project. Regards
Fred