News!

3 Shades of Blue is Now a National Bestseller!

Author James Kaplan's latest book 3 Shades of Blue is a national bestseller!

Purchase a copy of 3 Shades today from Bookshop.org or Kaplan’s publisher Penguin.

James Kaplan Talks New Book 3 Shades of Blue April 18th at the Jacob Burns Film Center

Join author James Kaplan at the Jacob Burns Film Center on Thursday April 18th as he discusses his new book 3 Shades of Blue following a screening of Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool.

JBFC Board President Janet Maslin will host the discussion and there will be copies of 3 Shades available for purchase courtesy of The Village Bookstore.

The screening starts at 7:00pm.

Purchase your tickets here!

3 Shades of Blue Write-up in Ralph Lauren Magazine

Author James Kaplan's latest book 3 Shades of Blue takes center stage for Bruce Handy's recent RL Mag piece.

"To my taste, this one goes immediately to the top shelf of great books about jazz or any other music. You may already know—should know—Kaplan as the author of a masterful two-volume biography of Frank Sinatra, Frank: The Voice (2010) and Sinatra: The Chairman (2015), which, along with his subsequent Irving Berlin: New York Genius (2019), established him as something like the Robert Caro of the Great American Songbook." - Bruce Handy, RL Mag

Read the full review here and then purchase a copy of 3 Shades from Bookshop.org or Kaplan’s publisher Penguin.

James Kaplan Talks 3 Shades of Blue on WVIK radio

Author James Kaplan joined WVIK host Robin Johnson to talk about his new book 3 Shades of Blue, the making of Kind of Blue, and how jazz music rose to the heights of American culture in the 1950s. Listen to their conversation here.

Purchase a copy of 3 Shades today from Bookshop.org or Kaplan’s publisher Penguin.

3 Shades of Blue Featured in The Wesleyan Connection

Author James Kaplan's latest book 3 Shades of Blue was picked up for review by Wesleyan University (Kaplan's alma mater) newsletter "The Wesleyan Connection." The piece examines the book as well as Kaplan's time at Wesleyan and his experience as a fledgling writer.

Read the piece here and then purchase a copy of 3 Shades from Bookshop.org or Kaplan’s publisher Penguin.

Shelf Awareness Reviews ‎ ‎3 Shades of Blue

James Kaplan's 3 Shades of Blue graces Shelf Awareness' latest newsletter via their "Best Books Reviewed" list.

"Fans of jazz and its mid-20th-century evolution who are looking for a history that's the cat's meow (for nonenthusiasts, that means excellent) will want to snap up a copy of 3 Shades of Blue by James Kaplan... Kaplan devotes this appreciation to jazz created from 1942 to 1967, music he calls '[n]ot antique, not anodyne, not forbiddingly difficult, and viscerally thrilling.'" - Michael Magras, Shelf Awareness

Read the full review here then purchase a copy of 3 Shades from Bookshop.org or Kaplan’s publisher Penguin.

James Kaplan Talks New Book 3 Shades of Blue On “The Arts Section”

Author James Kaplan recently discussed his new book 3 Shades of Blue on "The Arts Section" radio program. Listen to Kaplan's conversation with the program's host Gary Zidek online now!

Purchase a copy of 3 Shades of Blue from Bookshop.org or Kaplan’s publisher Penguin today.

3 Shades Of Blue Cracks CA Independent Booksellers Alliance Bestsellers List!

James Kaplan's newest book 3 Shades of Blue takes a seat at the #9 spot on the California Independent Booksellers Alliance bestsellers list this week.

Purchase a copy of 3 Shades of Blue  now from Bookshop.org or Kaplan’s publisher Penguin.