Chronicling a love affair …

… Jazz Profiles: "The Great Jazz and Pop Vocal Albums" by Will Friedwald as Reviewed by Ted Gioia. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)

In his new book Mr. Friedwald builds on his unique expertise in defining a canon of 56 classic jazz and pop vocal albums. But this is anything but one of those glib “list” books so popular nowadays. Mr. Friedwald digs in deeply in his analysis—almost every album gets more than 5,000 words of attention. Each track is weighed in the balance. In fact, Mr. Friedwald assesses virtually every arranger’s trick, instrumental solo and vocal inflection in his path.