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The Radio 3 Boards > The Music Boards > Jazz > Jazz Books
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Author Topic: Jazz Books  (Read 266 times)
greenfox
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Posts: 141
« on: 14:30:39, 31-12-2007 »
Just been reading a book by John Fordham called 'Jazz Heroes'. It's the best book about jazz I've so far found, balancing informative appraisal with great photography and an entertaining style. It gives you the lowdown on jazz history in a brief but adequate way - I don't really want to know all the ins and outs of who played with who and was signed up by who and the other minutiae - then features chapters on Trane, Gillespie, Monk and Montgomery, my favourites; also Ella and Mulligan.

I've looked at a few quite intense jazz books, in fact I've got one now, treating the subject with a complicated academic depth which, while interesting, I don't find as enjoyable as this one which is simpler and lighter.

« Last Edit: 14:55:12, 31-12-2007 by greenfox » Logged
King Kennytone
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Posts: 231
« Reply #1 on: 16:59:21, 08-01-2008 »
Not really jazz, and not really a book: Minute Particulars by Eddie Prevost is quite a fun read...
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John W
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Posts: 3644
« Reply #2 on: 19:33:30, 08-01-2008 »
greenfox,

Being a collector of original jazz 78s for decades I DO enjoy knowing who played what, where, when, with who, who plays the solos and who sings the words. The finest discographer of jazz is a Brit, Mr Brian Rust who I believe is 86 this year.

In the 1920s and 1930s many minor record labels were allowed to issue/re-issue jazz recordings under pseudonyms, and this includes such bands as Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman, Bix, Red Nichols etc etc and there's always a thrill to find out (thanks to Mr Rust) for example that that obscure gem of a record you have, issued in UK as the Ariel Dance Orchestra, is in fact Joe Venuti's band!

So my favourite jazz books are the discographies. I also like Humph Lyttleton's 'Best of Jazz' series from decades ago.


John W
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Tantris
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Posts: 152
« Reply #3 on: 16:29:35, 14-01-2008 »
Only Charles Mingus' Beneath the Underdog treats the subject with suitable respect and depth, I think.

If you want photos, Val Wilmer is worth investigating.
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greenfox
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Posts: 141
« Reply #4 on: 16:50:53, 14-01-2008 »
Yes I looked at one of Wilmer's books a year or two ago, and Born Under the Sign of Jazz is quite interesting:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Born-Under-Sign-Randi-Hultin/dp/1860742521/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200328922&sr=8-1

There's a CD accompanied version of that too, which I've heard. It's a bit tedious, going on about him or her at this or that occasion and I gave up reading all of it. But some of its memorably fun, for example tales of Dexter Gordon staying in a locked bathroom for 2/3 hours after a gig where he was expected had started; the author didn't write it but the implication was he was messing with illegal substances.
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time_is_now
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Posts: 4653
« Reply #5 on: 18:57:26, 14-01-2008 »
Ekkerhard Jost's book on free jazz was recommended by supermarket sweep a while ago. Haven't got round to reading it yet, but dipped into the first few pages on amazon.com and it looked to be well done.
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King Kennytone
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Posts: 231
« Reply #6 on: 13:03:56, 15-01-2008 »
Yep er
Jost's book was very good

_______er...
having said that, I haven't SEEN a copy for 25 years, but
*yeah, a good 'un
I think
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