Celestial Messengers

Who needs a chat with their spirit squad?

This lavish 111-track, six-CD box set attempts the impossible – to tell the whole story of jazz. Essentially an updated version of 1987’s out of print The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz, this expanded anthology is wonderfully diverse in the story it tells, with tracks from jazz artists across the stylistic board, from Stan Kenton to Sun Ra, Bill Evans to Chick Corea, Louis Armstrong to Cecil Taylor, with stops everywhere in between, and any conceivable branch of the genre is represented by at least one selection. That’s the good news. The bad news is that whole phases of jazz’s complicated history are treated like three-minute whistle stops so that the train can stay on schedule and on track. That said, it’s an impressive survey, and wonderfully assembled and annotated.

The follow-up to The Little Book of Saints, this treasure of a book is an ode to angels in their many forms. The stories of angels as divine messengers, faithful guardians, and mystical celestial beings offer readers inspiration and comfort. Beautifully illustrated with color lithographs from missals and prayer books, and elegantly packaged with a padded cover, gilded edges, and a ribbon marker, The Little Book of Angels makes a special gift for any religious or spiritual occasion—or for anyone who would welcome an angel to help guide their way.