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ODE TO A TENOR TITAN (by Bill Milkowski)
Idolized by fellow musicians but ignored by traditional jazz critics, Michael Brecker proved time and again that he was a worthy member of the great jazz tenor legacy. Bill Milkowski, who knew Brecker and understood his importance at the time, has written a new biography “Ode to a Tenor Titan” which documents Brecker’s astounding talent…
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“SITTIN’ IN: JAZZ CLUBS OF THE 1940s & 1950s” (by Jeff Gold)
Live music and venues were one of the first casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while some venues are reopening with reduced seating capacity, it may be several months before we can all enjoy an evening at a nightclub. Jeff Gold’s new book “Sittin’ In” offers an unusual look at the legendary clubs of the…
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HEART FULL OF RHYTHM” (by Ricky Riccardi)
Known amongst his colleagues as “Rickipedia”, Ricky Riccardi is the go-to man for all things pertaining to Louis Armstrong. His first Armstrong biography, “What a Wonderful World” reappraised the jazz icon’s later years (1947-1971). His newest addition is “Heart Full of Rhythm”, which discusses Armstrong’s equally-misunderstood big band era (1929-1947). Thomas Cunniffe’s review of the…
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“PLAY THE WAY YOU FEEL” (by Kevin Whitehead)/“STARS OF JAZZ” (by James A. Harrod)
Seen any good jazz films lately? This month’s book review features two new volumes on jazz’s sometimes uneasy alliance with the screen. Thomas Cunniffe examines Kevin Whitehead’s “Play the Way You Feel” and James A. Harrod’s “Stars of Jazz”.
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“DAVE BRUBECK: A LIFE IN TIME” (by Philip Clark)
2020 marks the 100th anniversary of Dave Brubeck’s birth. British journalist Philip Clark has written a new biography–written in a non-linear style–which corrects old misconceptions and adds new perspectives to the life and work of this American jazz icon. Thomas Cunniffe offers his reactions in this month’s Book Review.
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JAZZ IN THE 21ST CENTURY
As we enter the 20th year of the 21st century, two new books focus on jazz in the new millennium. In this Book Review, Thomas Cunniffe notes that neither Bill Beuttler’s “Make it New” nor Abby Mendelson’s “Spirit to Spirit” are perfect books, but they may well become valuable resources for further scholars.
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DAVE BRUBECK’S “TIME OUT” (by Stephen A. Crist)
Dave Brubeck frequently related the story that the businessmen at Columbia Records fought against the release of “Time Out”, feeling it would be a commercial flop. Fortunately, Brubeck had an important supporter in Columbia’s president, Goddard Lieberson. When the album was released and sales went through the roof, Brubeck was accused of going commercial! A…
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“RABBIT’S BLUES” (by Con Chapman)
Johnny Hodges was a private man who disliked giving interviews. Self-taught on both alto and soprano saxophones, he was not particularly well-versed on the mechanics of music, and the fear of being asked to explain elements of his personal style may have been his reason for keeping the press at arm’s length. In his new…
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JAZZ FROM DETROIT (by Mark Stryker)
“It takes a village to raise a jazz musician, and one reason Detroit has produced so many front-rank players is that the villagers are as hip as they come.” This sentence from Mark Stryker’s new book “Jazz from Detroit” is an apt summary of the city’s contribution to jazz. In this month’s Book Review, Thomas…
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SINGER’S SURVIVAL GUIDE TO TOURING (by Elisabeth Lohninger)
While universities do a credible job of training young jazz musicians for successful careers, the one course usually missing from the curriculum might be the most beneficial: “The Road 101”. Elisabeth Lohninger comes to the rescue with “Singer’s Survival Guide to Touring”, a comprehensive guide to life on the road. In his book review, Thomas…