Preface. 1. The Beginnings (Hotter Than That!). African-American Roots. Ragtime. The Blues: Early and Classic. Early Jazz (I). Early Jazz (II): Louis Armstrong (1901-1971).

Early Jazz (III). 2. Big Bands, Small Combos, and Swing (Swing, Brother, Swing!). Introduction to Big Bands and Swing. Duke Ellington (1899-1974). Count Basie (1904-1984). Benny Goodman (1909-1986) and Others. Some Soloists from the 1930s.

Billie Holiday--Lady Day (1915-1959). 3. From Bird to Trane (Things to Come). Bird Lives! Charlie Parker (1920-1955). Diz (1917-1993) and Monk (1917-1982). Variety: Some Soloists of the 1940s. Bopping On--Some Soloists of the 1950s; Charles Mingus (1922-1979). Into the Cool.

Miles Davis, Gil Evans, and Bill Evans. John Coltrane (1926-1967). 4. Free Jazz and Fusion (Directions). Free Jazz--"The New Thing." Fusion, Before and After. 5. Recent Events (That's It).

The Jazz Repertory Movement. Traditional Means, New Music. Other Groups and Soloists: "Young Lions" and Others. Jazz at the Movies. Glossary of Musical Terms. Discography: Sources of Musical Selections. Suggestions for Further Reading. Index.