Down Beat has celebrated 75 years of publication with a book called The Great Jazz Interviews containing 124 articles with great photographs. The focus is on Hall of Famers although some non-jazz or peripheral artists are included. Leading jazz journalists are well represented, and a surprising number of fine pieces are written by musicians themselves. Pianist Marian McPartland, a close friend of Paul Desmond, captures the essence of the altoist, and vocalist/lyricist Jon Hendricks’ article on the vocal group Lambert, Hendricks & Ross is in rhyme!

The anthology begins with a 1935 Louis Armstrong interview followed by articles on Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman’s 1938 Carnegie Hall concert. Thelonious Monk is interviewed in 1947 and again in 1965. Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie describe their differing interpretations of bebop; Les Paul explains his revolutionary recording process in 1954; and Cannonball Adderley and Charles Mingus offer their views on Ornette Coleman. Tony Williams lends insight into tuning drums; J. J. Johnson ponders the difficulties of the trombone; and a history of Bill Evans’ trios includes a cogent analysis of his style by pianist Warren Bernhardt.

Pianist Andrew Hill describes a good composition as “one that other people can play and out of which they can bring something new.” For critics who take musicians to task for not composing, tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson explains his role as seeking to interpret the music better than the composer wrote it. As for influences, pianist McCoy Tyner says, “Even though someone may open the door, you have to walk in yourself.”

There is a hilarious Blindfold Test with the Heath Brothers; a peek inside the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra tour by journalist Paul de Barros who traveled with them; and a few reprints from Down Beat’s 60^th anniversary collection--all gems worth rereading. And finally in a 2008 interview with Dave Brubeck he sites an earlier interview in which he predicted the future course of jazz. This is an entertaining and informative book which offers interesting insights into people, times, places, and the music.

This book was edited and compiled by Frank Alkyer, publisher of Down Beat; Ed Enright, editor; Aaron Cohen, associate editor; and Jason Koransky, former editor.