Jazz: The Metronome Yearbook
- Place of Publication: New York City, NY
- Language: English
- Date of Publication: 1950-1959
- Periodicity: Annually
- Editors: Bill Coss, George T. Simon & Barry Ulanov
- Publishers: Metronome Corp.
- Lacunae: 1952 (vol. 3). A copy of this issue could not be located and may never have been published.
- Type: Full Text
Following the cessation of Esquire’s yearbook in 1947, Metronome began publishing an annual yearbook in 1950, continuing a trend which would be duplicated and carried further by Metronome's rival Down Beat. Each Metronome Yearbook discussed the previous year in jazz, summarized trends, awarded honors, and predicted what was to come in the upcoming year.
Each Yearbook was produced by the editor(s) of Metronome at that time: from 1950 to 1955, George T. Simon and Barry Ulanov; from 1956 to 1959, Bill Coss. Each Yearbook held to a formula. First, the editors’ “History of the Year” would summarize what happened in the jazz world, describing events, recordings, publications, and trends. This was then followed by an awards section which gave laurels variously to musicians, singers, recordings, bands, photographs, and comebacks. Photography, while scattered throughout, was also often featured as a section, depicting recording sessions, performances, intimate moments, and clandestine views. Articles on prominent, larger topics (e.g., Charlie Parker, jazz behind the Iron Curtain, or jazz in painting) would follow. An annual discography and sometimes a bibliography concluded the annual volumes. Substantial advertising is found at the end.
No Yearbook appears to have been published for 1952 (volume 3). No volume was published in 1960 or 1961 either, likely owing to a gap in Metronome’s publication and subsequent cessation at the end of 1961, respectively.