CiTR

The great maestro Leonard Bernstein narrates with many musical examples played by greats like Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith,Louis Armstrong, Buster Bailey, Buck Clayton, Phil Woods, Coleman Hawkins, Miles Davis, John Coltrane etc.what Jazz music is and what it isn't. This is a fun and educational look at what makes this form of music unique and valid as an art form. This disc is part of a The Jazz Show tradition in that we feature this album every year as our "back to school" project along with last week's Cannonball Adderley disc. This is less a Jazz history document but rather a demonstration of how this music is put together. Bernstein loved Jazz and it's obvious from this disc that he feels it's just as important as Bach, Brahms, Beethoven etc. Bernstein's lucidity and clear voice makes many of the so-called complexities of music very clear and simple. Even though this was recorded in the mid-50's it is still a valid and educational document. Leonard Bernstein adds his voice to What Is Jazz.