Hardbopjazz Posted March 15, 2011 Report Posted March 15, 2011 I am half way through this book and I must say it is very interesting. Jimmy didn't hold anything back in this book. I didn't realize how heavy he was into using heroin in the 40s and 50s. He lost out on a lot because of his addiction. Has anyone else here read this book? I would suggest this to someone looking for a good book to read. Quote
chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez Posted March 15, 2011 Report Posted March 15, 2011 never heard of this, is it an old, hard to find book or a newer, easy to find book. i had no idea he was using. is that why we dont have as many lps w/ him in those early years, cause he never seemed to have a huge recorded presense then Quote
Hardbopjazz Posted March 15, 2011 Author Report Posted March 15, 2011 (edited) The book came out in January of this year. The book came out in January of this year. Yes, that's why there is a gap in his recordings. He spent 5 years in prison. He talks about in the late 40s while in Dizzy's band snorting heroin with Coltrane. Coltrane over dosed and Jimmy revived him. But they both kept using heroin. One fact he did clear up was, Dizzy was clean. He didn't didn't use heroin and would fire anyone in the band if he found out. Edited March 15, 2011 by Hardbopjazz Quote
brownie Posted March 15, 2011 Report Posted March 15, 2011 More reminiscences (along with Benny Golson) in a New York Daily News interview today. Quote
Head Man Posted March 15, 2011 Report Posted March 15, 2011 £18+ is rather more than I want to pay so does anyone know whether there's a paperback version scheduled for release? Quote
mr jazz Posted March 23, 2011 Report Posted March 23, 2011 I really enjoyed his autobiography and recommend it to any jazz lover. One thing about JH, wherever he is in his composition, there is always melody. A good thing, IMO. Quote
Dan Gould Posted March 23, 2011 Report Posted March 23, 2011 I got this for Christmas but my reading stack is long and my time to read short. But I plan to start it after I finish the current tome I am working on. Glad it was a gift and didn't spend too many ducats. Sorry, I was channeling hardbop there for a minute. Quote
fasstrack Posted April 10, 2011 Report Posted April 10, 2011 I am half way through this book and I must say it is very interesting. Jimmy didn't hold anything back in this book. I didn't realize how heavy he was into using heroin in the 40s and 50s. He lost out on a lot because of his addiction. Has anyone else here read this book? I would suggest this to someone looking for a good book to read. I read it and pretty much dug it. It's an insider's contribution to the lore. Jimmy's a great guy, a real talent, a resource for NY musicians, and he was there and can tell the tales. As jazz autobiogs go, it's better than some, especially the first two thirds. It bogs down for me when his career as educator begins, but maybe I just like the 'sexy' stuff like every other guilty pleasure junkie. Also repeated itinerary summations may be valuable as historical footnotes, but after a couple get tedious to read. I'm glad Jimmy remembered them, just wished he'd put them in an appendix. As far as the storytelling, there are some raw moments when he recounts his career frustrations, but he doesn't blame anyone but himself and you cheer for him in the end when it all turns out alright. Some other stories, like the one about Pops, the hotel,and the racoon, are hilarious. The story of the way the Heath Brothers saga on Columbia went down is so typical, well-told, and a good read. As also are the reflections on sideman gigs with Dizzy, Miles, and the early one w/Nat Towles. His bad-guy stumbles are rendered without self-pity. I found the italicized commentary by fellow musicians and others a disruption. This is a conceit used in many books of this ilk and I find it annoying because it interrupts the narrative flow and when you finish reading it you have to regroup and look at the Roman type and wonder 'where the hell was I?' Let the cats give testimony, just put it in the back of the chapter with footnotes or asterisks---do us all a favor. Good book, good cat, good (great, actually) life. Read it. Quote
fasstrack Posted April 10, 2011 Report Posted April 10, 2011 The book came out in January of this year. The book came out in January of this year. Yes, that's why there is a gap in his recordings. He spent 5 years in prison. He talks about in the late 40s while in Dizzy's band snorting heroin with Coltrane. Coltrane over dosed and Jimmy revived him. But they both kept using heroin. One fact he did clear up was, Dizzy was clean. He didn't didn't use heroin and would fire anyone in the band if he found out. It must've been January of last year, since I myself bough it in March of '10. Quote
sheldonm Posted April 21, 2011 Report Posted April 21, 2011 (edited) The book came out in January of this year. The book came out in January of this year. Yes, that's why there is a gap in his recordings. He spent 5 years in prison. He talks about in the late 40s while in Dizzy's band snorting heroin with Coltrane. Coltrane over dosed and Jimmy revived him. But they both kept using heroin. One fact he did clear up was, Dizzy was clean. He didn't didn't use heroin and would fire anyone in the band if he found out. It must've been January of last year, since I myself bough it in March of '10. ...got mine from Jimmy last fall in Chicago....so certainly it was 2010. Edited April 21, 2011 by sheldonm Quote
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