Down in Houston: Bayou City blues
The authors draw on dozens of interviews with blues musicians, club owners, audience members, and music producers to present a lovingly detailed portrait of the Houston blues scene, past and present.  B&W photos.
--Roger Wood & and James Fraher

Visions of Jazz: the first Century
Combining criticism, biography, history, anecdote, and musicology with unfailing insight and wit, Visions of Jazz is a provocative journey through a hundred years of American music.
--Gary Giddons

Living the Jazz Life
In interviews with saxophonists, pianists, singers, composers, and string, brass, and rhythm players, Stokes gathers the brightest lights in the jazz firmament.
--W. Royal Stokes

Jazz Rock: A history
Explores the history of the marriage of Jazz and Rock  with artists such as  James Brown, Jack Bruce, Carlos Santana, The Grateful Dead, and Jimi Hendrix, as well as more obvious choices such as Miles Davis, Chick Corea, and Jack DeJohnette.
--Jon Newey

Miles: The definitive biography
From the early New York apprenticeship with Charlie Parker, through Davis's drug addiction of the early 1950s, to the years (1954-1960) during which he signed with Columbia and recorded masterpieces.
--Ian Carr

The Big Book of Jazz; piano, vocal, guitar
75 prime jazz favorites, including: All of You * Autumn Leaves * Bewitched *  The Girl from Ipanema  * Honeysuckle Rose * Lady Sings the Blues * Lullaby of Birdland * My Funny Valentine * A Night in Tunisia * Satin Doll * Skylark *  and more.
--Hal Leonard

1929
By 1929, the brief, brilliant career of Bix Beiderbecke -- self-taught cornetist, pianist, and composer -- had already become legend. As his genius blazed forth, Bix's career took a tragic turn.
--Frederick Turner

Blue Bossa
Set against the backdrop of Patty Hearst's kidnapping in 1970s San Francisco, Blue Bossa sparkles with a swinging, lyrical prose; a family story that explores how parents, children, and lovers support each other in the ceaseless struggle to rebuild broken lives.
--Frank Schneider

Shackling Water
A book for lovers of both words and song. The novel follows talented young saxophonist Latif James-Pearson as he migrates from Boston to New York in hopes of apprenticing himself to his hero, Albert Van Horn.
--Adam Mansbach