Before his death in 2000, noted jazz bassist Milt Hinton was able to compile more than 260 of his photographs and produce Playing the Changes, a memoir and follow-up to his 1988 book Bass Line; the work was accomplished with the help of two long-time friends (who also produced a documentary about Hinton): David C. Berger (sociology, Temple U.), and Holly Maxson. Written in Hinton's colorful yet straightforward style, this large volume documents life on the road with such jazz legends as Cab Calloway and Billie Holliday, and even his experiences with R&B and pop-oriented artists as Aretha Franklin and Barbra Streisand. The black-and-white photographs often capture candid moments among these musical giants, whether they're laying down music history in the studio or merely hanging out in local bars and restaurants. A CD containing some of Hinton's musical performances and spoken-word recordings and stories is included in this oversize (11.25x9.75") volume. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)