The latest words on jazz, evaluated by critics who understand the power of jazz writing.
Pianist/composer Kenny Werner’s Effortless Mastery isn’t just a must-read for musicians. A mix of practical wisdom, psychospiritual musings, and cockeyed humor, the influential 1996 book … Read More “Kenny Werner: Becoming the Instrument: Lessons on Self-Mastery from Music to Life (Sweet Lo Press)”
The great literary critic Harold Bloom once wrote, “True criticism recognizes itself as a mode of memoir.” Case in point: Ugly Beauty. Phil Freeman’s collection … Read More “Phil Freeman: Ugly Beauty: Jazz in the 21st Century (zer0)”
First published in 1997, now republished with a new introduction, Jackie Kay’s Bessie Smith unrolls less like a formal study of the singer and much … Read More “Jackie Kay: Bessie Smith: A Poet’s Biography (Vintage)”
Like its author, a memoir of John Lurie’s could zig and zag in a dozen directions. There’s the acting career that brought him to the … Read More “John Lurie: The History of Bones (Random House)”
Cleveland-born, Bay Area-based jazz vocalist Ed Reed may not have a thousand recording credits to his name. He has, however, lived a life as long … Read More “Ed & Diane Reed: Double Helix: A Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, and Jazz in Two Voices (ReedsWrite)”
The phrase “force of nature” has been used to describe numerous jazz musicians, owing to a strong personality, an intense body of work, or perhaps … Read More “Cisco Bradley: Universal Tonality: The Life and Music of William Parker (Duke University Press)”
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)”
