The Evolution of Jazz in Britain, 1880–1935

'Catherine Parsonage has written the definitive history of jazz in Britain. And it's a great story! Having lived for many years in an American jazz cocoon, I was continually amazed by the multiple responses to the music in the British Isles. And Parsonage's compelling narrative makes it all the more vivid.' Krin Gabbard, Professor of Comparative Literature, State University of New York ’...a book so supremely important ... two hundred and sixty superbly researched pages ... an incomparable treatise, bursting with authenticated and cited references... I really can't recommend this book too highly. Its research sources (cited page by page) are impeccable; its style is readable, its index comprehensive and its information both new and vital. Catherine Parsonage has done British jazz an inestimable favour ... In my view, very few jazz books anywhere can surpass this one for excellence... an essential addition to the existing bibliography of our music's formative years...’ Digby Fairweather, Jazz Rag 'In what is certain to become the standard work on the subject, Dr Parsonage highlights both the innovations which were beginning to attract the attention of some musicians, and the wider cultural connotations of the term "jazz" ... she has uncovered a rich seam of historical materials which offer fresh perspectives on the early development of jazz in the UK.' Jazz UK 'Overall, Parsonage’s book is a great contribution to our knowledge of jazz, and a much-needed text as far as Britain is concerned. Important as America was, and still is, in the development of the genre, Britain’s history is a fascinating one. And this serious, important, well-researched book is surely the best way of learning it.' MusicWeb International 'Parsonage’s eminently readable history of jazz in turn-of-the-centuries Britain debunks the notion that Europe has been a uniformly enthusiastic haven for jazz appreciation. For readers who are unfamiliar with the murky beginnings of jazz, Pa