The Hammond Organ: Beauty in the B by Mark Vail
Mark Vail is a cheerleading fan of the B-3 and its mandatory Leslie speakers. He walks us through more than you might ever wish to … Read More “The Hammond Organ: Beauty in the B by Mark Vail”
Books
The latest words on jazz, evaluated by critics who understand the power of jazz writing.
Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant Life by Laurence Bergreen
This is the biggest Armstrong biography yet, and it incorporates a lot of fresh, diligently researched material. For those primarily interested in the music, however, … Read More “Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant Life by Laurence Bergreen”
Charlie Parker: His Music And Life by Carl Woideck
Essentially a minutely detailed analysis of excerpted phrases taken from recordings made between 1940 and 1954, this book opens with a 47-page biographical sketch that … Read More “Charlie Parker: His Music And Life by Carl Woideck”
The New Blackwell Guide to Recorded Blues by Edited by John Cowley and Paul Oliver
This massively researched tome benefits from such scholars as Britain’s Paul Oliver and Mike Rowe and Statesiders like Paul Garon, Dick Shurman and John Broven, … Read More “The New Blackwell Guide to Recorded Blues by Edited by John Cowley and Paul Oliver”
Marshal Royal: Jazz Survivor by Marshal Royal & Claire R. Gordon
The first part of this autobiography is unusually valuable for information on the early jazz scene in Los Angeles, particularly the part played by such … Read More “Marshal Royal: Jazz Survivor by Marshal Royal & Claire R. Gordon”
Stir It Up: Musical Stews from Roots to Jazz by Gene Santoro
Gene Santoro is a fine writer who digs deep to demonstrate how artists’ lives and beliefs have shaped their work. His subjects here range from … Read More “Stir It Up: Musical Stews from Roots to Jazz by Gene Santoro”
Thelonious Monk: His Life and Music by Thomas Fitterling
This translated and updated edition of Fitterling’s 1987 study makes a welcome addition to the slight body of English-language writing available on Monk. It represents … Read More “Thelonious Monk: His Life and Music by Thomas Fitterling”
Our Own Sweet Sounds by Robert Cochran
Subtitled “A Celebration of Popular Music in Arkansas,” this slim but proud volume successfully bridges the gap between the coffee table and academic library shelf. … Read More “Our Own Sweet Sounds by Robert Cochran”
Irving Berlin Songs from the Melting Pot: The Formative Years, 1907-14 by Charles Hamm
Composer Alec Wilder called Irving Berlin “the best all-around, over-all song writer America has ever had.” Berlin was certainly prolific and successful, dedicating himself ferociously … Read More “Irving Berlin Songs from the Melting Pot: The Formative Years, 1907-14 by Charles Hamm”