Stuck for ideas on what to give the avid jazz fan in your life? Perhaps you know a budding musician who could do with some helpful accessories, or perhaps someone who's just picked up their instrument and is getting started on their musical path for the first time? If that's the case, then look no further than our helpful Christmas list of music, books and other assorted goodies!
Gifts for Listening...
Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas
Ella Fitzgerald
The most iconic festive record in the Verve repertoire and one of the most successful jazz holiday albums of all time is receiving new life for the 2023 season with a fresh colour variant vinyl in ruby red, plus a new Ella-focused collectable cover.
Available format: Vinyl Record
Gifts for Watching...
Through an exploration of his life and work, and close encounters with the man himself, this documentary offers an exceptional opportunity to examine the contrasting worlds of jazz and classical music. At the same time it is a fascinating and analytical portrait of a remarkable musician whose interests and influences range from jazz, ethnic and folk music, to Bach, Mozart, Stravinsky and Samuel Barber. The film explores, through a collage of interviews and performance, the complete range of Keith Jarrett's life and work. Great archive material is interweaved with original and richly detailed filmed interviews, not only with Keith himself, but with all the musicians he has played with over the years, as well as with members of his family, tour managers and other close musical and recording associates.
Available format: Blu-ray
Tropicália, or Tropicalism, is one of Brazil's most significant cultural movements. Born in the late 1960s by a collective of like-minded souls, it used music and visual arts as a voice to confront the cultural and political establishment. And now the scene and its key players are explored in Marcelo Machado s fascinating new film Tropicália. This vibrant feature documentary explores this iconic and era-changing time in Brazil's history with material lovingly gleaned from the archives, stunning images, and the testimony of the group s protagonists including Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Tom Zé, Arnaldo and Sérgio Dias, from the band Os Mutantes, whose controversial thoughts, music and behaviour resulted in prison and exile for its leaders. Then of course there is the music, the Tropicalistas created pop songs, mixing traditional Brazilian folk and the north hemisphere s rock which created a sound never heard before and which has since inspired and influenced many high profile musicians including David Byrne, Damon Albarn and Beck.
Available format: Blu-ray
Gifts For Reading...
Bill Frisell, Beautiful Dreamer: The Guitarist Who Changed the Sound of American Music
Philip Watson
Over a period of forty-five years, Bill Frisell has established himself as one of the most innovative and influential musicians at work today. A quietly revolutionary guitar hero for our genre-blurring times, he connects to a diverse range of artists and admirers, including Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens, Gus Van Sant and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, all of whom feature in this book.
Book
A Strange Celestial Road: My Time in the Sun Ra Arkestra
Ahmed Abdullah
In this memoir, Harlem-born trumpeter Ahmed Abdullah recounts decades of national and international touring with the Sun Ra Arkestra and charts the rise of the New York loft jazz scene, offering a fascinating portrait of advanced music in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan from the 1970s through the 1990s. Along the way, Abdullah covers his spiritual development as a Buddhist, battles with addiction, tribulations as a father, lessons from Sun Ra and working life as an educator and cab driver.
Book
How to Listen to Jazz
Ted Gioia
In How to Listen to Jazz, award-winning music scholar Ted Gioia presents a lively introduction to one of America's premier art forms. He tells us what to listen for in a performance and includes a guide to today's leading jazz musicians. From Louis Armstrong's innovative sounds to the jazz-rock fusion of Miles Davis, Gioia covers the music's history and reveals the building blocks of improvisation.
Book
Blue Note is not only known as the purveyor of extraordinary jazz but is also famous as an arbiter of cool. The superb photography of co-founder Francis Wolff and the cover designs of Reid Miles were integral to the label’s success and this highly illustrated publication – featuring the very best photographs, covers and ephemera from the archives, including never-before-published material – commemorates Blue Note’s momentous contribution to jazz, to art and design, and to the music business.
Book
Gifts for Playing...
Keep your whole ensemble in sync. No matter what key your group is performing in, the Tombo chromatic pitchpipe lets you play your key note to get off to a strong start. With clear labelling on the smooth plastic casing, it's simple to identify the note you need to hear. Let all members feel sure of each and every note.
Pitch Pipe
The easiest way to play a great gig? Being able to hear what you’re playing! The Jazzlab Deflector Pro ensures optimum conditions with an easily mounted deflector shield that streamlines your sound straight back to you, tuning you in directly to your playing. When utilized during practice sessions, the Deflector Pro makes for quick technique improvement and enhanced articulation. Use it with trumpets and trombones, as well as baritone, tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones (straight and curved).
Acoustic Shield
The EVANS RealFeel 12" practice pads feature a gum rubber playing surface. EVANS practice pads are the most popular option available, providing the best practice substitute to an acoustic drum.
Practice Pad
D'Addario Pacato hearing protection is a reusable, universal sized audio filter designed specifically for musicians and music enthusiasts. While traditional earplugs can sound muffled and unnatural, the Pacato filters provide full frequency, enjoyable audio at safe listening levels. The exclusive design offers an open air passage to the ear, minimizing occlusion effect (low frequency emphasis), while keeping the ear ventilated for unmatched comfort.
Earplugs
The Bam Softpack trombone cases are fun, colorful, and protective cases. The top shell is actually made of metallic-colored hard ABS, whereas the bottom part is made of a sturdy, durable and anti-slip rubber material. The interior also features Bam's signature high-density foam core, which protects your instrument against temperature damages while serving as a suspension system. A very popular option amongst students and professional musicians.
Trombone Case
This Real Book edition pays tribute to the Fab Four with over 100 arrangements of their masterful songs. Each song remains true to the spirit of its original performance and is presented in the classic fashion you've come to know from The Real Book with easy-to-read musical notation and chord symbols. The book is professionally copied and meticulously checked for accuracy in melody and rhythms while also presenting the harmonies within a jazz-oriented context.
Sheet Music
Gifts for... I don't know what!
Present or store your headphones with this attractive headphone table stand. The black structured surface and the exclusive design provide for perfect stability and high functionality. The stand is ideal for home use and professional studio use as well.
Headphone Stand
Charlie Lee Georgescu's chart is a stunning visual guide to the electric guitar and all its features. Detailed diagrams and analyses provide a window into the underlying physics of the instrument and its parts. This "blueprint" provides more than a working knowledge of the electric guitar and reveals the hidden beauty of this popular instrument.
Chart
A full-colour poster featuring legendary jazz musician John Coltrane.
Poster
This must surely be the most appropriate piece of music for an umbrella! Produced in mini telescopic size, it also comes with a matching sleeve.
Umbrella
If you need a mask, we’ve got you covered with Ernie Ball-branded dual liner face masks. Featuring dual-layer construction, the inner ply is made from a soft cotton/polyester blend for maximum breathability and protection, whilst the outer layers feature a polyester/spandex blend enabling a comfortable secure fit. The masks are soft and breathable and have stretchable ear loops that should fit most applications.
Face Mask
