Mark Barnett knows and loves jazz, and he has a special talent for explaining the music-and his passion for it-in words that everyone can understand. It's a talent that shines from every line in this book.

The contents of the book originally appeared in columns Barnett wrote for the comprehensive All About Jazz website (www.allaboutjazz.com), guiding listeners track by track through some of his favorite jazz albums.

His first contribution was to the site's "Building a Jazz Library" section, recommending ten of the most memorable albums from one of his favorite artists, Stan Getz. That was followed by "How to Listen," a Q&A article with tips on getting the most out of the jazz experience. Barnett then wrote "Getting into Jazz," a column for those who "want to listen to jazz but aren't sure where to start," using his CD reviews as teaching tools. His reviews analyze the best tracks on each disc, pointing out what to listen for (and exactly when). All of these elements are now compiled into this book, a definitive guide to the jazz Barnett loves so well. If you're new to this music, let it inspire you to start your own jazz journey.