Jazz round-up.

John Coltrane by Bill Cole Da Capo Press, 1993, $14.95 ISBN 0-306-8053-0

Biographer Bill Cole takes an in-depth look at John Coltrane, one of the greatest contributors to American music. Coltrane fans get a look into not only the musicality that he became famous for, but also his spirituality. Coltrane intertwined both his music and his religious beliefs to cultivate his African American identity.

Carmen McRae, Miss Jazz by Leslie Gourse Billboard Books, 2001, $21.95 ISBN 0-823-07904-X

Jazz legend Carmen McRae's voice has long been compared to Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn. Now jazz biographer Leslie Gourse tells the accomplished singer's compelling life story. Interviews conducted with McRae, plus personal recollections by friends and peers comprise this work.

Miles Beyond: The Electric Explorations of Miles Davis, 1967-1991 by Paul Tingen Billboard Books, 2001, $24.95 ISBN 0-823-08346-2

For the first time, a biography of Miles Davis has been solely dedicated to his controversial "electric" period. "Jazz-rock" was born from this period in Davis' career.

Kind Of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece by Ashley Kahn Da Capo Books, August 2000, $23.00 ISBN 0-306-80986-9

Kind Of Blue is an album that has sold millions of copies worldwide since its release in 1959. Often described as one of the most important recordings of the 20th century, Ashley Kahn now reveals to music fans everywhere a close look at Kind Of Blue's creation.

Class Act: The Jazz Life of Choreographer Cholly Atkins by Cholly Atkins & Jacqui Malone Columbia University Press, June 2001, $24.95 ISBN 0-231-12364-7

Cholly Atkins was a tap dancer who performed allover the country with jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway and Count Basie. This autobiography spans Atkins's childhood entry into the dance world and his Tony Award -winning choreography of Black and Blue.

Jazz in American Culture by Peter Townsend University Press of Mississippi, March 2000, $18.00 ISBN 1-578-06324-8

The artform known as jazz came into being around 1900. Since its beginning, jazz has not left any aspect of American culture untouched. Peter Townsend traces how jazz influenced movies, art and literature. He also explores whether jazz has been a solely male-dominated, black phenomenon.

Jazz in the Bittersweet Blues of Life by Wynton Marsalis & Carl Vigeland Da Capo Press, 2001, $25.00 ISBN 0-306-81033-6

When popular jazz musician Wynton Marsalis invited Carl Vigeland to tour with his band, he found the experience so memorable he decided to write about it. This book is filled with Vigeland's observations of Marsalis's world and his reflections of home, family, creating and performing music.

A New History of Jazz by Alyn Shipton Continuum International Publishing, September 2001, $35.00, ISBN 0-826-44754-6

BBC presenter and London Times jazz critic Alyn Shipton offers a comprehensive look at jazz, investigating how jazz first started and modern notions of the music. He also discusses how the big boom in theaters and concert halls during the twentieth century helped spread the popularity of jazz.