JAZZ

"Start with rhythm/ Start with the heart"—so begins this collection of Walter Dean Myers poems, where listeners will find plenty of rhythm and plenty of heart. R&B artists James "D-Train" Williams and Vaneese Thomas read and sing the 17 poems—joyful tributes to jazz and bebop, to the piano and the slide trombone, to Louis Armstrong and New Orleans—with energy and verve, accompanied by a live jazz ensemble. The narration lifts the words off the page and asks them to dance, perfectly complementing Christopher Myers's gorgeous, colorful, kinetic illustrations. Listeners of all ages will feel truly immersed in the sounds of jazz music, and the accompanying introduction, glossary of jazz terms, and timeline of jazz history offer even more depth. J.M.D. AudioFile Best Audiobook of 2007, 2008 Odyssey Award © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]