Books

Compact discs are generally the gift of choice for the jazz enthusiast, but books and videos on jazz can be provocative and informative alternatives. Here are some of the year’s top books and videos, as selected by members of The Times’ jazz staff:

“Beyond Category: The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington,” John Edward Hasse, Simon & Schuster ($25). Despite the profusion of Ellington books, Hasse, who is the curator of the Smithsonian’s Ellington exhibition, uncovers new aspects of Ellington the man and the musician, successfully counteracting the less-favorable impression left by James Lincoln Collier’s 1987 biography. The illustrations are ample and rare.