slide_advantage_redoux Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 (edited) I was at a local half price book store and I saw - and bought - a hardback copy of the bio on Sun Ra (by John Szwed), entitled "Space is the Place" It is a first edition, but it probably wasn't a book that went into multiple pressings (considering the subject). Any opinions on this book? Edited October 17, 2005 by slide_advantage_redoux Quote
Guy Berger Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 It's a great book! Szwed did his homework and does a very good job of explaining Sun Ra the person, which is no easy thing given the person in question. My favorite part is when Sun Ra discusses Star Wars: "It's very accurate!" Guy Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 Bragging alert, bragging alert!! (don't say you weren't warned) I got my name in the Acknowledgements section of this book -- in the list of "Sun Ra cognoscenti" -- page xii (hardcover edition), 4th full paragraph, 3rd line (between "Charles Blass" and "Alan Chase"). Hey, it's my 15 nanoseconds of fame, and I'm gonna milk it for all it's worth!!! (Requisite apologies to those who've heard me toot my own horn about this in the past. At least you can't say you didn't see it comin'. ) Quote
.:.impossible Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 This book has a little bit on just about everything you've ever wanted to read about. And then stuff you didn't know existed. I loved this book. I should read it again soon! Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 Don't think I'm mentioned anywhere but I still say "buy it". Quote
Kalo Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 I've been meaning to get this, but since it DOESN'T reference Chuck Nessa and he still endorses it, I will definitely spring for it soon. Hey Chuck, when's the Art Ensemble book coming out? Quote
Kalo Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 Bragging alert, bragging alert!! (don't say you weren't warned) I got my name in the Acknowledgements section of this book -- in the list of "Sun Ra cognoscenti" -- page xii (hardcover edition), 4th full paragraph, 3rd line (between "Charles Blass" and "Alan Chase"). Hey, it's my 15 nanoseconds of fame, and I'm gonna milk it for all it's worth!!! (Requisite apologies to those who've heard me toot my own horn about this in the past. At least you can't say you didn't see it comin'. ) ← So it's not under "R"? Quote
Guest Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 I would say without reservation that Space is the Place is the best jazz biography I have ever read. Quote
brownie Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 Bragging alert, bragging alert!! (don't say you weren't warned) I got my name in the Acknowledgements section of this book -- in the list of "Sun Ra cognoscenti" -- page xii (hardcover edition), 4th full paragraph, 3rd line (between "Charles Blass" and "Alan Chase"). Me too! An article I wrote is referenced in the 'Selected Biography' section -_- Excellent highly readable book. Well documented! Same goes for 'So What' Szwed's book on Miles Davis. Quote
jazzbo Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 It answered about 40% of the questions that I have about Ra! That's far more than expected! A very good book. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 Excellent book. I loved it! Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 (edited) Excellent highly readable book. Well documented! Same goes for 'So What' Szwed's book on Miles Davis.← Just another enthusiastic plug for Szwed's book on Miles, "So What". One of the best written jazz biographies I've ever read. Yeah, I know, know... I've read criticisms here -- probably justified (they came from people whose opinions are worth much around these parts) -- about bits and pieces of Szwed's other book: "Jazz 101 : A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Jazz". I haven't read it yet, but I probably should pick it up sometime, and see for myself. So while I can't vouch for every single fact and opinion in "So What", it's still a damn good book, and a GREAT read. What I wouldn't give to be able to write like Szwed does. Edited October 17, 2005 by Rooster_Ties Quote
Robert J Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 This was a great bio. There was so much about Mr Blount I did not know or I found was obscured from other questionable sources. It's an academic approach to a complex man. Even though it got a little heavy in the political/social background of radical politics in the US etc., it never detracted from the overall theme/argument of the bio. Plus all the stuff on his devotion to Fletcher Henderson, the detailed rehearsal sessions, the Pythagoran lifestyle, Egyptian history, the Birmingham music scene as well. (Aside: I reviewed this book for the Montreal based pub - Planet Jazz, in spring of 99.) 2nd aside: The Arkestra is playing for a few days this week in Toronto. Anyone see this config recently? I'd should check out Marshall Allen before he boards the mother ship. Quote
AllenLowe Posted October 17, 2005 Report Posted October 17, 2005 John's a friend of mine, so I'm not objective, but it's a great book, as is his Miles bio - I'm not in the acknowledgements section, but if you take the 26th letter on each page from pages 226-234, it does spell out my name - John's personal, if oblique, tribute to our friendship- Quote
JamesJazz Posted October 19, 2005 Report Posted October 19, 2005 Szwed's Ra bio is wonderful. His Miles bio is the best of the lot, IMHO. Quote
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