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Loft Jazz: Improvising New York in the 1970s (by Michael C. Heller)
In the 1970s, many free jazz musicians were unable to find gigs in mainstream clubs. With new zoning regulations in Manhattan, many of the old factories in lower downtown were available as cheap living and performing spaces. The term loft jazz was used to describe this esoteric music, even though the moniker was quite inaccurate.…
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Louis Armstrong: Master of Modernism (by Thomas Brothers)
In one of the finest books ever written on the subject, Thomas Brothers’ Louis Armstrong: Master of Modernism examines Armstrong’s pioneering work from 1922-1931. Thomas Cunniffe reviews the volume, noting Brothers’ free use of the race card, but praising his method of humanizing Armstrong.
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Better Git It In Your Soul (by Krin Gabbard)
Charles Mingus was many things: a virtuoso bassist, a brilliant composer, an intriguing author, and a great personality. In his new interpretive biography Better Get It In Your Soul, Krin Gabbard separates Mingus’ different elements. Thomas Cunniffe notes the strengths and weaknesses of Gabbard’s approach in this Book Review.
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Norman Granz: The Man Who Used Jazz for Justice (by Tad Hershorn)
The impact of Norman Granz on the world of jazz can hardly be underestimated. He influenced the way the music is presented both live and in the studio, and he was a trailblazer in the struggle for civil rights. Tad Hershorn’s new biography tells of Granz’ accomplishments and failures, and Thomas Cunniffe offers his reactions…
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Outside In (by Scott Shachter)
Jazz fiction is a rarely-used literary sub-genre, which means the forms are open enough to allow its writers a great deal of flexibility. Scott Shachter’s new novel Outside In tells the story of a progressive jazz saxophonist and his number one fan. Thomas Cunniffe reviews this funny and engaging book.
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Paris Blues (by Andy Fry)
Did French audiences and critics really understand jazz and its creators better than Americans? Author Andy Fry thinks not, and in his new book, Paris Blues, he refutes those stories with dramatic new research. In his review, Thomas Cunniffe admires Fry’s research, but wishes that the book would have been more comprehensive.
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Is That All There Is?: The Strange Life of Peggy Lee (by James Gavin)
From the beginning of her 6-decade career, Peggy Lee was the personification of understatement. Her subtle vocal delivery said more with one note that most singers did with several, and on film, she could entice the entire audience with only a raised eyebrow. James Gavin’s new biography, Is That All There Is examines Lee’s life…
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Playboy Swings (by Patty Farmer and Will Friedwald)
As Hugh Hefner conceived it, the Playboy lifestyle had jazz as its soundtrack. Hefner promoted the music through his magazine, festivals, television shows and the Playboy clubs. A new book by Patty Farmer and Will Friedwald, Playboy Swings recounts the history of Playboy’s forays into the entertainment world. In his book review, Thomas Cunniffe writes…
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Pressed for all Time: Producing the Great Jazz Albums (by Michael Jarrett)
The role of the jazz producer has evolved considerably in the past 80 years. As recording technology transformed from shellac to vinyl, and then from analog to digital (and back again!), producers accepted increasing responsibilities from editing master tapes to sequencing LPs and CDs. Michael Jarrett’s new book Pressed for all Time is an oral…
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Late Life Jazz (by Ken Crossland & Malcolm MacFarlane)
Rosemary Clooney was never truly a jazz vocalist, but she maintained a close association with jazz musicians in the last 25 years of her life. It made her a better singer, and her career experienced an artistic renaissance like few others. Thomas Cunniffe reviews Late Life Jazz, a new biography that, despite its title, discusses…