really the blues by mezz mezzrow

[alocispepraluger102]

would anyone recommend it or comment on the book?

[jazzbo]

I recommend it. It's a blast.

[Harold_Z]

What Lon said.

Mezz was a character.

[Cliff Englewood]

I thought it was good at first but my interest waned as it went on. I wouldn't class it as essential.

[AllenLowe]

interesting book, though I skimmed a bit - great stuff on Tommy Ladnier, as I recall - and don't let anyone put down Mezz as a musician - listen to stuff llike Revolutionary Blues-

Edited June 2, 2008 by AllenLowe

[Big Beat Steve]

Yes, the book is fun and great reading. I guess some details in it need to be taken with a grain of salt, though.

But those biographical sources that stated that "Mezz was a major figure in classical jazz not so much for his playing but as a purveyor of almost unlimited quantities of marijuana to the musicians and for writing "Really the Blues"" are spot-on.

Some of his mid-40s King Jazz recordings with Bechet may be quite OK (I only have part of them) but a lot of what he forced into record grooves after that period was just some laughable noodling and doodling of scales. Nice amateur attempts but if it hadn't been for his earlier behind-the-scenes presence and the continued (and just as laughable) patronage and hero worshipping by Hugues Panassié he would have been nowhere overall.

But that's beside the point here. The book IS enjoyable.

Edited June 2, 2008 by Big Beat Steve

[AllenLowe]

disagree - check out the Classics issue of Mezzrow with Revolutionary Blues (can't remember the date) - this whole period is some of my favorite small-group jazz playing; spare, convincing, sincere, deeply felt - kind of a return to basics, and though it may be somewhat reactionary in intent, it is wonderful as music - in some ways it predicts some of the avant garde efforts to go back to an earlier way of not just playing but of "feeling" the music, and it succeeds -

[Big Beat Steve]

We may not be talking about exactly the same period. Revolutionary Blues with Bechet was c. 1944-45 IIRC. I was referring to somewhat later dates, including some recorded in France.

But be that as it may - it may be a matter of "agree to disagree", I guess, and besides, it's

the book that alocis asked about.

[AllenLowe]

the later stuff, I agree, is unsteady - I figured as long as we mentioned the book I could do a little bit of revisionist advocacy -

Edited June 2, 2008 by AllenLowe

[johnlitweiler]

Yes, I recommend it highly. Bernard Wolfe was a hell of a writer and Mezz sure had good stories to tell him. But he may not really have hated modernism as much as he claimed. Around 1948 or 1949, when there was a jazz festival in France, Mezz was at Paris airport greeting Miles and other Americans with gifts of marijuana.

[Big Beat Steve]

John, this was the Paris Festival in 1949. Modernism or not, I guess a weedhead was a weedhead (no matter waht the musical inclinations were) and meant good company if you were in for some weed. So backstage friendships might make any sort of alliances possible. :D

[gmonahan]

Yes, I recommend it highly. Bernard Wolfe was a hell of a writer and Mezz sure had good stories to tell him. But he may not really have hated modernism as much as he claimed. Around 1948 or 1949, when there was a jazz festival in France, Mezz was at Paris airport greeting Miles and other Americans with gifts of marijuana.

Didn't Mezz greet *everyone* with gifts of MaryJane?!

Greg Mo

[Chuck Nessa]

Read the book in 1962 as a college freshman. Made me buy another Bernard Wolff book. I enjoyed both with my limited knowledge.

Somewhere on my shelves is a tape of a conversation (in my apt with Bud Freeman and Terry Martin) discussing Mezz. He told a story about breaking Mezz's nose. I think Eddie Condon was involved.

[Harold_Z]

Read the book in 1962 as a college freshman. Made me buy another Bernard Wolff book. I enjoyed both with my limited knowledge.

Somewhere on my shelves is a tape of a conversation (in my apt with Bud Freeman and Terry Martin) discussing Mezz. He told a story about breaking Mezz's nose. I think Eddie Condon was involved.

That's hysterical. If you read between the lines ( maybe not so much.....and Chuck - I'm sure you have) in Eddie's "We Called It Music", basically Eddie thinks Mezz is an asshole.

[JamesJazz]

Mezz had a few bright moments on the wonderful 1938 Newton/James P./Pete Brown RCA session...

[Chuck Nessa]

My choice for most interesting Mezzrow recordings would be the Victor sessions 1934-36 with Bud Freeman, Frankie Newton, Benny Carter, Willie the Lion, Wellman Braud, etc. Whatever else he played is forgiven.

edit for typo

Edited June 4, 2008 by Chuck Nessa