From the Preface by Ted Gioia:All of these musicians fought their way back over the next decade, and their success in re-establishing themselves as important artists was perhaps the first signal, initially unrecognized as such, that a re-evaluation of the earlier West Coast scene was under way. Less fortunate than these few were West Coasters such as Sonny Criss, Harold Land, Curtis Counce, Carl Perkins, Lennie Niehaus, Roy Porter, Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wilson, and those others whose careers languished without achieving either a later revival or even an early brief taste of fame. Certainly some West Coast jazz players have been awarded a central place in jazz history, but invariably they have been those who, like Charles Mingus or Eric Dolphy, left California for Manhattan. Those who stayed behind were, for the most part, left behind. The time has come for a critical re-evaluation of this body of work. With more than forty years of perspective--since modern jazz came to California-we can perhaps now begin to make sense of the rich array of music presented there during those glory years. But to do so, we need to start almost from scratch. We need to throw away the stereotypes of West Coast jazz, reject the simplifications, catchphrases, and pigeonholings that have only confused the issue. So many discussions of the music have begun by asking, "What was West Coast jazz?"--as if some simple definition would answer all our questions. And when no simple answer emerged--how could it when the same critics asking the question could hardly agree on a definition of jazz itself?--this failure was brandished as grounds for dismissing the whole subject. My approach is different. I start with the music itself, the musicians themselves, the geography and social situation, the clubs and the culture. I tried to learn what they have to tell us, rather than regurgitate the dubious critical consensus of the last generation. Was West Coast jazz the last regional style or merely a marketing fad? Was there really ever any such thing as West Coast jazz? If so, was it better or worse than East Coast jazz? Such questions are not without merit, but they provide a poor start for a serious historical inquiry. I ask readers hoping for quick and easy answers to approach this work with an open mind and a modicum of patience. Generalizations will emerge; broader considerations will become increasingly clear; but only as we approach the close of this complex story, after we have let the music emerge in all its richness and diversity. By starting with some theory of West Coast jazz, we run the risk of seeing only what fits into our theory. Too many accounts of the music have fallen into just this trap. Instead, we need to see things with fresh eyes, hear the music again with fresh ears.

West Coast Jazz: Modern Jazz in California, 1945-1960

Arts & Photography

Gioia, Ted

Claxton, William

Music

University of California Press

The finest collection of jazz photographs ever published, William Claxton's Jazz became an instant classic when it was first published in 1987. Now this seminal volume of portraits is available in a stunning paperback edition. Legendary throughout the jazz world, Claxton began photographing musicians while still a student at UCLA, during the early days of the burgeoning West Coast jazz scene. A personal friend of many of the artists, Claxton captured on film the intimate relationship between the musicians and their music, and his award-winning photographs have graced the covers of innumerable albums. Collected here are 77 evocative full-bleed duotones of the world's great jazz icons, including Sarah Vaughan, Chet Baker, Dave Brubreck, Bill Evans, Gerry Mulligan, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Dizzie Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Art Pepper, Thelonious Monk, and many others. For anyone who loves jazz or fine photography, Jazz is a timeless volume and an outstanding gift.

Jazz

Photography & Video

Chronicle Books+

The importance of the 
Rites of Durham as a description of a monastic cathedral on the eve of the Dissolution has long been recognized. This new edition, the first for over a century, includes an introduction, placing the 
Rites in the context of the religious tensions of the Reformation and attributing it to the late sixteenth-century Durham antiquary, William Claxton; a new text based on manuscripts not known to previous editors and giving the full range of variants; a detailed commentary explaining the text and testing out its accuracy against other evidence, including traces in the fabric of the cathedral and its precinct; thirty-six plates showing early drawings of the cathedral and its precinct, surviving objects relating to those described in the text; and manuscript illuminations casting light on the descriptions to be found there; and five plans to facilitate understanding of the text.In addition, a series of appendices contains a full edition of the related text which describes the windows of Durham Cathedral and its precinct; the first ever edition of the letters of William Claxton; an edition of the descriptions of the bells and the organs of the cathedral added to the Rites by the Durham antiquary James Mickleton the elder (1638-93); and a detailed analysis of the earliest surviving manuscript of the Rites, which is in the form ofa paper roll. The volume is completed by a comprehensive index.\nMARGARET HARVEY has had a distinguished career in Durham University, with a particular research specialism in the medieval papacy; she is an authority onthe religious history of late medieval and early modern Durham. 
After teaching medieval history and archaeology, especially of the Church, to adult students, LYNDA ROLLASON co-edited the 
Durham Liber Vitae (2007) andthe 
Thorney Liber Vitae (2015); she has published a series of papers on medieval ecclesiastical history.\nTable of Contents\nIntroduction 
Present Editions and Editorial Method 
The Text 
Commentary 
Appendix A: The Windows 
Appendix B: The Bells and the Organs 
Appendix C: The Claxton Correspondence 
Appendix D: The Physical Features of Hg 
Appendix E: The Order of Sections in H45 
References 
Plates 
Index

The Rites of Durham (Publications of the Surtees Society, 226)

History

Europe

Surtees Society

Presents photographs of jazz singers and musicians of the 1950s and 1960s

Twelvetrees Pr

Steve McQueen is a handsome photographic art book featuring William Claxton's unique photographs-images that captured the young, controversial American actor in the beginning of his movie career during the 1960s. Claxton's photographs confirm that McQueen's all-American, off-beat good looks were every bit as stunning as his acting and his often-stormy off-screen personality. McQueen continues to be an icon for the youth of yesterday and today. Often labeled as a maverick, a rebel, a tough guy, a loner, and a daredevil, McQueen was, above all else, an American original. Claxton, a sometime buddy of McQueen's, has captured on film not only McQueen's talent and perfectionism, but also his less well-known sensitivity and sense of humor. Along with these photographs, most of which have never been published before, are Claxton's memories and recollections, including anecdotes creating a very personal vision of McQueen. Steve McQueen features action shots of McQueen with his motorcycle buddies, in his fast cars, with his leading ladies and fellow actors, including scenes from several of his early and best films.

Steve McQueen: Photographs by William Claxton

Individual Artists

Arena Editions

The pioneers of aviation. The firsthand account by the Wright Brothers of their early experiments with gliders and the first powered flight, and William J Claxton's account of early balloon flight and aircraft development to World War One.

A History of Early Aviation

Wright, Orville

Wright, Wilbur

Military

Red & Black Pub

A love letter to the birthplace of Jazz New Orleans will never again appear as it does in these rare and stunning photographs by William Claxton taken for the book Jazzlife in 1960. While traveling around the US with Musicologist Joachim E. Berendt to record America's original art form, Claxton met and photographed the jazz personalities in every major and minor city, capturing these musicians in their natural environment.

New Orleans: Jazzlife, 1960

Berendt, Joachim E.

Taschen America, LLC

The sights and sounds of American jazz In 1959 and 1960, photographer William Claxton and noted German musicologist Joachim Berendt traveled the United States hot on the trail of jazz music. The result of their collaboration was an amazing collection of photographs and recordings of legendary artists as well as unknown street musicians. The book Jazzlife, the original fruit of their labors, has become a collector's item that is highly treasured among jazz and photography fans. In 2003, TASCHEN began reassembling this important collection of material?along with many never-before-seen color images from those trips. They are brought together in this updated volume, which includes a foreword by Claxton tracing his travels with Berendt and his love affair with jazz music in general. Utilizing the benefits of today's digital technology, a restored audio CD from Joachim Berendt's original recordings has been produced and is included in this package. Jazz fans will be delighted to

Jazzlife: A Journey for Jazz Across America in 1960

Claxon, William

William Claxton captures many facets of McQueen's enigmatic tough guy/nice guy personality through his empathetic lens

Claxton, Steve Mcqueen

Crist, Steve

Sharing a passion for fast cars, among other things, Steve McQueen (1930-1980) and William Claxton became friends early in McQueen's career and remained close until his premature death. Claxton frequented McQueen throughout his many incarnations (dirt bike rider, movie actor, sports car driver, ladies man, family man, etc.), capturing at every turn another side of McQueen's enigmatic tough-guy/nice-guy personality. As this photo album demonstrates, Claxton's photographic talent and sensibilities were perfectly attuned to the actor's multifaceted character. This is the real Steve McQueen, Immortalized by Claxton's empathetic lens.

Steve Mcqueen

Biographies & Memoirs

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Claxton, William. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Claxton, William

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Claxton, William. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

West Coast Jazz: Modern Jazz in California, 1945-1960

Jazz

The Rites of Durham (Publications of the Surtees Society, 226)

Jazz

Steve McQueen: Photographs by William Claxton

A History of Early Aviation

New Orleans: Jazzlife, 1960

Jazzlife: A Journey for Jazz Across America in 1960

Claxton, Steve Mcqueen

Steve Mcqueen