Jazzology
- Place of Publication: London, United Kingdom
- Language: English
- Date of Publication: 1946-1947
- Publishers: American Jazz Society of London
- Type: Citation Only
Jazzology was published by the American Jazz Society (of London) in two series: two undated booklets, published during the Second World War, and a second series comprised of fourteen issues published from January 1946 to February 1947. Edited by Charles Harvey, both booklets contained articles on American music for an educated British readership: on Black music in general, the music of Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter), Bunk Johnson, Native American poetry, Count Basie, Cowboy ballads, Ida Cox, as well as recording news and activities at jazz clubs in England.
The monthly issues, published by the Portnall Press, continue this theme of a somewhat anthropological approach to jazz’s roots, development, and current practice, written for a British readership. Initially still suffering from the limited numbers of records available following the war, perspectives tend toward the broad, though over the course of 1946, further recordings become available and writers focus more on recorded performances. A readers’ record poll is introduced, a serialized jazz lexicon is begun (though not completed), along with record reviews, photographs, and local jazz news. Whereas initially swing was derided, by the final issues of Jazzology accepted a broader stylistic range as more records became available.