The latest words on jazz, evaluated by critics who understand the power of jazz writing.
At his peak, Frank Sinatra never seemed to make a bum call. He sang ahead of the beat, on the beat, behind the beat, rendering … Read More “Geoffrey Littlefield With Christopher Riddle: Nelson Riddle: Music With a Heartbeat (Grosvenor House)”
If some of your first gigs were with Charles Mingus, Benny Goodman, and your dad, you too would have the basis of a pretty good … Read More “Dottie Dodgion & Wayne Enstice: The Lady Swings: Memoirs of a Jazz Drummer (University of Illinois Press)”
Along with writing about modern jazz for the last quarter-century in Great Britain, Duncan Heining has focused his attentions on drummer-turned-pianist-turned-composer-turned-arranger-turned-conceptualist George Russell since well … Read More “Duncan Heining: Stratusphunk: George Russell – His Life and Music (Jazz Internationale)”
Fred Taylor ranks among the most crucial figures in Boston’s jazz history. As much an institution as the Berklee College of Music, Storyville, and WGBH … Read More “Fred Taylor with Richard Vacca: What, and Give Up Showbiz?: Six Decades in the Music Business (Backbeat)”
Ever feel insecure about listening to jazz? Like it’s over your head? Well, it’s not. And if you need proof of this, pick up Jeff … Read More “Jeff Gold: Sittin’ In: Jazz Clubs of the 1940s and 1950s (Harper Design)”
Having a fellow jazz singer and the author of the award-winning This Is Hip: The Life of Mark Murphy tackle the roots of bop vocalese and its … Read More “Peter Jones: This Is Bop: Jon Hendricks and the Art of Vocal Jazz (Equinox)”
We start with a familiar allegory: A number of blind and deaf men are led into a room with an elephant. Each tries to describe what’s … Read More “Dave Chisholm and Peter Markowski: Chasin’ the Bird: Charlie Parker in California (Z2 Comics)”
Were you an ardent fan of hard bop, circa 1960, with an additional yen for progressive mages like John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk, you might … Read More “Maria Golia: Ornette Coleman: The Territory and the Adventure (Reaktion)”
It almost sounds like the setup to an old comedy routine: A jazz/rock keyboardist walks into a bar with an eclectic Grammy-winning producer and comes … Read More “Ben Sidran: The Ballad of Tommy LiPuma (Nardis)”
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