Includes bibliographical references (pages 463-467) and index.

Ears, mind, heart: a path to open listening -- Groundwork: developing listening skills -- Jazz as a mirror of our times: from birth through the 1940s -- Jazz as a mirror of our times: from the 1950s to the present -- Functions and forms: jazz on and off the bandstand -- Points of departure: small groups and big bands -- Horn of Gabriel: the trumpet (getting personal with Dave Douglas) -- Raspy, gaspy, smooth, and silky: the trombone (getting personal with Roswell Rudd) -- Reeds and deeds I: the tenor saxophone (getting personal with Joe Lovano) -- Reeds and deeds II: the alto saxophone (getting personal with Rudresh Mahanthappa) -- Reeds and deeds III: highs and lows the soprano and baritone saxophones (getting personal with Dave Liebman) -- Reeds and deeds IV: top and bottom woodwinds the clarinet, flute, and bass clarinet (getting personal with Bennie Maupin) -- I got rhythm I: the piano (getting personal with Alan Broadbent) -- I got rhythm II: the acoustic and electric basses (getting personal with John Patitucci) -- I got rhythm III: give the drummer some ( getting personal with Jim Black) -- I got rhythm IV: a little discussion about percussion (getting personal with Joe Locke) -- I got rhythm V: the guitar (getting personal with John Scofield) -- The singer and the song (getting personal with Dwight Trible and Roseanna Vitro) -- Is jazz entertainment or is it art? -- The shape of things to come: jazz in the 21st century.