Big Beat Steve

Thanks John. "Unfortunately" you confirm my suspicions. The "This Is An Orchestra" book has had good reviews elsewhere. I'll look out for a decently-priced copy that ships safely here. But since I have the Lee book anyway ("gift horse", you know ... ) I'll certainly peruse the first part of it that deals with, say, the period up to about 1960 that is of most interest to me anyway. This does look more straightforward at first sight. I still cannot fathom, though, what the author tried to show (or prove) for the later years, in particular, by including every whatsoever writeup from whatever provincial small-town paper, particularly as some of these seem to deal with the same event (that was deemed interesting enough to recieve media coverage) over and over again (disregarding the obits, BTW). Weird ... and the typeface doesn't help either.

My „other“ thread of jazz books for sale (last updated in this “Offering and Looking for” section on 14 Seotember) has become a bit unwieldy to update and keep it easy for readers to follow, so I decided to start a new one. So here goes … Below is a list of the (duplicate and surplus) jazz books I have for sale now. All with English text unless indicated otherwise. All books are in very good condition (defects, traces of wear are indicated as applicable). 1) “Jazz optisch”, edited by J.E. Berendt (Nymphenburger, Munich, 1954) – the first German “jazz picture book” (original printing, not the smaller-sized "Fan Edition"). 72 pages, no dust jacket, some small pen markings inside, otherwise very clean condition. - 7 EUR 2) “That’s Jazz – Der Sound des 20. Jahrhunderts“, 700-page catalog (covering every aspect of the history and recent situation of jazz) to accompany the jazz exhibition held in Darmstadt in 1988, German text, very good condition. - 5 EUR 3) “Photo-Story des Jazz”, J.E. Berendt (Krüger, Frankfurt, 1978), 360 pages, German text. - 8 EUR 4) "Jazz Hot – Un Demi-Siècle de Jazz", photo album released on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Jazz Hot (1987 – second printing 1989), French text, 110 pages. - 9 EUR 5) “Nights in Birdland – Jazz Photographs 1954 to 1960”, photographs by Carole Reiff (Hannibal, Vienna, 1988), 128 pages, German text, othe4iwese contents identical to English edition. - 8 EUR 6) “Jazz West Coast – Artwork of Pacific Jazz Records”, by William Claxton and Hitoshi Namekata (Bijutsu, Japan, 1992). - 25 EUR 7) “California Cool – West Coast Cover Art”, G. Marsh / G.Callingham (Editon Olms, Zürich, 1992 – the edition with multiple exposures of Jack Sheldon o the cover), 112 pages. – 20 EUR 8 ) “New Hot Discography” by Charles Delaunay (Criterion 1948, 4th printing 1966), pen annotations inside. - 10 EUR 9) “Chet Baker In Concert”, documentation of a concert of the Chet Baker Trio tour in October 1985 (Nieswand, 1989), 64 pages, German text. - 9 EUR 10) “Bing – Just For The Record – The Complete Encyclopedia of Commercial Recordings 1926-1977” of Bing Crosby, by Bert Bishop and John Bassett, (Crosby Circle, 1980), 122 pages. - 4 EUR 11) “Sinatra – The Man and His Music – The Recording Artistry of Francis Albert Sinatra 1939-1992”, by Ed O’Brien and Scott P. Sayers, Jr. (1992), 303 pages. - 10 EUR 12) “Profoundly Blue – A Bio-Discographical Scrapbook on Edmond Hall”, by Manfred Selchow, self-published (1988), dust jacket has some wrinkles, 640 pages. - 35 EUR 13) “Edmond Hall – A Discography”, by Manfred Selchow and Karsten Lohmann, self-published (1981), 162 pages, pen annotations (additions to discographical entries) inside. - 10 EUR 14) “Diary of Jazz – A Perpetual Calendar” with 12 interviews by Karl Lippegaus (Nieswand, 1996), some pen annotations inside. - 7 EUR Still available from my earlier thread are: 15) Keepnews/Grauer,”Pictorial History of Jazz”, (Spring Books (UK), revised edition 1966). Dust jacket is tatty round the edges and torn in places but inside of book is in solid, good condition, spine is tight. - 12 EUR 16) Leonard Feather, “The Encyclopedia of Jazz”, 1980s DaCapo paperback reprint republication of the original 1960 “New Encyclopedia of Jazz”. Good condition, some insignificant creases in spine. – 15 EUR 17) “Down Beat Record Reviews” Vol. III (reviews published in DB in 1958) – 20 EUR Front cover slightly faded, spine faded, rear cover and final 2 pages were missing but have been replaced with clean photocopies, inside in good condition, very minor browning. 18 ) “Jazz in Deutschland” by Horst H. Lange, Berlin 1966 (original edition) German-language book on the history of jazz in Germany up to the early 60s. Excellent condition. Some light pencil annotations inside that can be erased easily. – 10 EUR 19) “Jazz in Österreich 1920-1960” by Klaus Schulz (Vienna 2003), German-language pictorial history of jazz in Austria, book in as-new condition, enclosed CD with an overview of Austrian jazz from that period is present. - 6 EUR 20 ) Metronome Jazz Yearbooks 1954, 1957 and 1958, minor wear to the edges of the covers, otherwise VGC. 18 EUR each 21) Big Book of Swing (Ed. Bill Treadwell), biographies (geared primarily to fans) of whoever was considered “hot” in jazz/swing in 1945, published by Cambridge House in 1945, 134 pages, close to as-new condition, 18 EUR (I do realize that shipping costs would make items 20 and 21 primarily of interest to domestic buyers.) 22) “Blues Records 1943-1966”, Mike Leadbitter/Neil Slaven, 1st edition 1968 (Oak Publications, paperback), slight edge wear to spine and page margins from leafing through but overall good condition. - 17 EUR Am open to negotiating a certain discount for purchases of multiple items. Payment: Bank transfer for buyers within Germany, EU bank transfer or Paypal “friends and family” for EU buyers. Shipping: Basically I would be prepared to ship anywhere at cost, but reasonably speaking, the actual shipping costs (via DHL) will probably limit this to destinations in Germany or within the EU. Costs: Destinations within Germany,: Letter up to 500 g = 1.80 EUR, up to 1000 g = 2.90 EUR Small parcel up to 2 kg = 5 EUr, parcel up to 5 kg = 7.50 EUR Destinations within the EU: Letter up to 500 g = 3.30 EUR, up to 1000 g = 6.50 EUR Small parcel up to 2 kg = 11 EUR, parcel up to 5 kg = 20 EUR Thanks for looking!

I would have just about (just barely) understood THAT cover "artwork" for a reissue of some down-home country blues. But this??? Booker Little?

I guess I must admire you for looking beyond that off-putting front "artwork" that is so out of tune (literally) with the music and is not far from detracting from the contents. Not a highlight in cover artwork creativity ... (What were they thinking ?)

Don't have that one, but it seems like that (P.D.) CD reissue wasn't quite up to snuff in its personnel listings for Tracks 8,9,10? No John Lewis. But OTOH - so there was no trumpet (Jesse Drakes) on tracks 11 to 14 after all? Evensmo says so too in his solography. If so, time to correct the "Lestorian Notes" discography there.

Thanks John! "Lestorian Notes" lists the above session with most of the LP and Cd releases indicated by Lord but says the pianist is "unknown". So I take it that the Lord disco has the most up-to-date info. So in the end there is nothing that's "never before released". What puzzles me is whether Lester Young live dates really are considered such hot items today that the (incorrect) "unreleased" claim needs to be made to lure unsuspecting buyers into shelling out. Not that I'd imagine the Session Disc 104 or Ambrosia AMB-10, 20 and 30 LPs are that common among collectors. But they are out there, and at least from what I've observed over here, if this sort of "Boris Rose" vinyls come up they sell for almost next to nothing.

Also pointed out here, FWIW: In the "New Releases" section, though IMO it remains to be seen how much of it is actually "new".

This very RSD release was evoked here yesterday as well: My impressions stated over there stand. Somehow the names, places and tracks sound oddly familiar. So what is REALLY new and unissued on this release in the end?

These tracks, the location and the line-ups read uncannily like what's been discussed "in extenso" here: "Indiana" and "These Foolish Things" not mentioned in that thread did get recorded at Birdland during 1951 too (according to the "Lestorian Notes" discography). The "odd man out" is the presence of Cyril Haynes who according to that discography never got recorded with Lester Young. And according to the brief biographies of him I've been able to ceck at a quick glance the Lester Young Birdland groups would not have been the most likely company he moved in. But who knows ...?

I've started reading the "Wishing on The Moon" biography by Clarke (will certainly not do it in one go, but anyway). And "The Song of the Hawk" will be next. I couldn't help wondering to what extent it can be used as the bio-discography that Medjuck suggests, but my first impression is that it's not quite that obvious. Unless you take the discussions of the sessions more as reviews. Which is not a bad thing because some of these actual bio-discographies (of which there are several in that book lot too) are a bit short on the "bio" side anyway.

For the Billie Holiday biography, that is? @ those who read this thread and are familiar with the books: Now how does the John Chilton biography of Sidney Bechet compare to "Treat It Gentle"? I've read glowing reviews of his Bechet bio. But opinions of actual users would be welcome as complementary info just the same. (Not that put-downs would deter me forever anyway. )

Three votes already for "Wishing on the Moon" by Donald Clarke - that seals it for now: I've started on this Billie Holiday biography (her genealogy described in the first chapter is confusing, to say the least!). Anyway ... opinions on the other books shown in my starting post remain welcome. In particular, another question to those who know: How does the Stan Kention "Artistry In Rhythm" bio by William F. Lee compare to other biographies written on "Stan The Man"? This is a subject I find quite tempting and I was glad to get that book, but leafing through the pages in the chapters of his final years left me a bit puzzled. At times they read like a scrapbook collection of newspaper articles on him which seem somewhat repetitive at first glance - as if geared towards the diehard fan completist. Strange ...

Thanks, all! (More input referring to my "list" very, very welcome! ) @Fer Urbina: Looking closer at that Marian McPartland book I see it is not "about" Marian McP, but rather "Marian McPartland about other jazz artists", so I'll file it along with the "Jazz Gentry" book. And I'll keep your recomendation in mind. And yes, I've read good things about the two books you put up front so they now are candidates for prioritization. @HutchFan. Yes, quite a treasure, and a welcome haul. From a fairly wide field of jazz publication areas. @jlhoots and EKE BBB: Thanks for your recommendations about Pee Wee (which I will keep in mind too), but this one unfortunately was not part of the lot. With a lot of reshuffling of the contents of my bookshelves (and moving many books on other collecting interests into another room) I've managed to put most of the new arrivals that made up that haul in my music room (which has overflown into about half of the adjacent room by now) in an orderly way. But shelf space remains very limited (my order of the Pacific Jazz history book is still pending anyway), so I try to restrain myself from buying more music books right now. For the time being it's more a matter of which of these to get into first and how to rank them overall compared to other biographies on the same artists. But as these finds (and the others that came with them) came my way essentially free, who am I to sneer at any of them? But while we're at it: @EKE BBB: A question about Duke Ellington bios to you: This lot also includes three Duke Ellington biographies: "Music Is My Mistress", "Duke Ellington in Person" by Mercer Ellington, and "Duke Ellington, His Life and Music" (ed. by Peter Gammond), all of them in their German editions. How would you rate these 3 among the crop of existing Ellington biographies? I have a hunch that I'd have to turn elsewhere for today's #1 go-to biography on him, and I often have misgivings about German translations of such music books, but like I said - who am I to sneer at freebies?

I had long wondered whether to put this question into the "What jazz book are you reading right now?" topic but then decided to start a new one in order not to let that "reading right now" thread get deviated into too many directions. Sooo ... I am wondering which of the following books to tackle next after the current one (Eddie Condon's Treasury of jazz - which is well-suited to small instalments and can be put aside almost any time in between, of course): (FTR, (Right now I am leaning towards either "The Song Of the Hawk" or "Jazz Gentry" - another one that is perfect for reading in small -chapter-wise - portions in between) The primary reason I am asking is this: Quite a few of the above artists have been graced by several biographies through the years, and these may not all have the same ranking among those in the know and familiar with them. So my question is: Any of you with any opinions on how the above rate compared to other biographies on the respective artists, or recommendations on which of these are particularly recommended, or which to put on the back burner in favor of a different one of the artist, maybe, etc. (FTR, I do own and have read the Bix biography by Richard Sudhalter, and I did bypass the "Lady Sings The Blues" bio, of which there is a copy - German version - in this lot too) (And in case anyone's wondering, "why that avalanche of biographies in one swoop?", 2 weeks ago I cleared out the bookshelves of the estate of a deceased jazz collector (from the source that the Bird book mentioned in the "Great finds" thread in August came from), and the above items are the tip of the iceberg - or should I say "icemountain? - and the more tempting ones of the biographies included in the lot.) Thanks in avance to everyone for your opinions and assessments.

I agree but what can we do these days with (customs duties) matters being THAT nebulous? (Uneasiness in the opposite direction over here is not much better, BTW)

Maybe they are trying to circumvent the obvious (as long as they can) in order not to frighten even more customers away?

Nice! And well-presented. Wish I had that much "free" storage wall surface around the actual storage shelves already occupied by vinyl (and related books and ... ).

Thanx!

Can some mod please correct the title of this thread? Pleeeze! As it is now, this must hurt the eyes of any French-speaking folks around here. It's "Souffle Continu". Just like some have written correctly in their recent posts.

A small side note about the appreciation of the partners of Richard Rodgers: I'm reading "Eddie Condon's Treasury of Jazz " right now (in small instalments), and in the chapter on Lee Wiley (written by George Frazier) there is this: "To hear Lee at her best, listen to her Storyville LP - the portfolio of Rodgers and Hart. Not Rodgers and that other fellow (who would be Oscar Hammerstein II, who, no disrespect intended, no Larry Hart, he) ..." I suppose the experts' opinions do differ on the respective merits of Rodgers' partners?

I am no authority on him but somehow I doubt it. There are quite a few horn men I cannot identify in that book but I do not recall anyone with these features. Fernando (Fer Urbina) should know more.

Thanks, that sounds plausible. BTW, browsing through the book again, I noticed a photo on the page preceding the page that shows the second photo from the Webster Hall date on your blog: visibly taken at a break during a recording session (the engineer's booth is visible in the background), with two men (musicians, probably) reading their newspapers. Could this have been taken at the same Webster Hall session?

Wow ... what knowledge! I am impressed! Do you have any idea if this was taken at an occasion that was recorded?

Thanks a lot, Fernando!! So I was right when I figured that that guy wearing the cap looked treacherously like Tony Scott! (Sahib Shihab and Gigi Gryce also were easy to identify) Offhand I just could not think of a big band session that he led. Though I ought to have known and ought to have searched further ... because I do own the "Complete Tony Scott" album. As for others to identify, I might well contact you via MP (our should I put the photos here for everyone to see and identify?). One that comes to mind right away is the pic (about 20 pages into the book) of four bassists jamming together (studio? backstage?). Percy Heath (second from right) is obvious, but the others? Many thanks again!