Jazz, by its very nature, is traditionally associated with live performance. Writing about jazz from the perspective of recording presents an interesting challenge, and a great opportunity to explore both the music and the technology. While Jazz on Record competently presents an introduction to the history of jazz from this unusual perspective, it does not present the fascinating history which it could. Priestly includes some nice anecdotes about recording, such as Cecil Taylor's debate with Rudy van Gelder about using prepared piano on Unit Structures. It also contains some nice photos of old studios and sessions. Unfortunately, Priestly tries to present too diverse a set of information in too introductory a setting for the book to be essential reading for recording enthusiasts. While Jazz on Record is often enjoyable and informative, it is far from the great book that it could have been, and which hopefully someone will write in the future. By the way, this book has gone out of print, but remaindered copies are common and affordable. (Billboard Books)