99% Invisible The Real Book
13 snips
Apr 7, 2021 
Mikkel McAvenon, a producer who delved into the clandestine history of The Real Book, joins forces with jazz musician and educator Steve Swallow, who contributed to its creation. They discuss how this unlicensed collection became essential for jazz musicians since the 1970s, transforming jazz education. The episode dives into the tensions between unauthorized musical resources and personal expression, the evolution of fake books, and the cultural legacy left by this iconic compendium, illuminating the vibrant chaos that is jazz.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Kernfeld's Inquiry
- Musicologist and saxophonist Barry Kernfeld's curiosity about the Real Book's origins arose during a gig.
- This prompted him to investigate the history of jazz and music piracy, leading him to the Tune Decks.
Tune Decks and the First Fake Books
- In the 1940s, George Goodwin created Tune Decks, index cards with song information and notation for radio stations.
- Jazz musicians repurposed these cards, creating the first fake books, cheaper, more portable alternatives to sheet music.
Fake Book Proliferation and Shortcomings
- Music publishers cracked down on fake book bootleggers, but they persisted, leading to numerous illegal fake books by the 1950s.
- Steve Swallow, a jazz musician, found these fake books essential yet frustrating due to their poor design and out-of-date music selection.
