Jazz.

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This superb read-along version of Walter Dean Myers’ tribute to jazz dares listeners to keep their feet still as jumpin’ rhythms and lively riffs fill the air with energy. Narrators and vocalists James “D-Train” Williams and Vaneese Thomas read the two-page introduction with enthusiasm and heart, setting the atmosphere as cool jazz music plays faintly in the background. Their alternating reading pattern breaks up the lengthy descriptions. Highlights are many, with catchy lyrics telling the story of jazz through the ages. Christopher Myers’ vibrant illustrations, marked by flowing brushstrokes, combine with the book’s poems, which are either read or sung; background music performed by a jazz ensemble adds to the mood. The rhythmic verse is so diverse that listeners are surprised with each page turn. A soulful, passionate tempo marks “Jazz Vocal,” while “Good-bye to Old Bob Johnson” is a somber farewell to a legendary artist marked by low drumbeats and slow-paced lyrics. A concluding glossary and time line are read slowly and clearly. An excellent audio treat for young (and old alike) who have an ear for syncopated rhythms and would like to learn more about the uniquely American music called jazz. Pair this with Live Oak’s equally impressive read-along, Blues Journey (2005), also by Walter Dean Myers. Both packages come with a hardcover book.