The book is structured as an alphabetical survey of over . For each "piece," Gioia provides:

: The story of how the song was written and its evolution from Broadway show tunes or pop songs into the jazz canon.

: A curated guide to more than 2,000 recordings , highlighting the most definitive covers and contemporary interpretations. Key Pieces Covered

: Discussion of the song's harmonic and melodic significance.

The guide includes everything from the to modern jazz classics, such as: "Ain't Misbehavin'" "Autumn in New York" "God Bless the Child" "How High the Moon" "Round Midnight" "Take Five" "So What" Purchasing Options

is a non-fiction book by award-winning jazz historian and pianist Ted Gioia . Published by Oxford University Press , it serves as a comprehensive reference guide to the core songs that define the jazz genre.