Norman Granz biography finally sees print

[Don Brown]

I learned yesterday that Tad Hershorn's long-awaited biography of Norman Granz will finally see the light of day on October 1st. The book's original title was to be Norman Granz: The Conscience of Jazz but it is now being called Norman Granz: The Man Who Used Jazz For Justice. The new publisher is The University of California Press. The book was originally to be published by HarperCollins. I'd love to know the backstory explaining the delay and change in publishers but the important thing is we'll finally have a chance to read Tad Hershorn's book. It's already up on Amazon.

[John Tapscott]

Thanks Don, for posting this. Besides profiling Granz himself, hopefully this will give great insight into an important slice of jazz history and some of its greatest performers.

[Dave James]

Thanks Don, for posting this. Besides profiling Granz himself, hopefully this will give great insight into an important slice of jazz history and some of its greatest performers.

Agreed. I'm a little concerned, given the title of book, that it may be more of a social commentary than a straight up biography. Something along the lines of Douglas Henry Daniels' book about Lester Young.

[JSngry]

Something along the lines of Douglas Henry Daniels' book about Lester Young.

Other than the extreme dryness of its tone, I had no real issues with the content of that book.

[brownie]

Very glad to see this book finally come out, whichever its publisher!

The Amazon entry

Next one (hopefully ) should be Peter Pullman's book on Bud Powell...

[gmonahan]

Thanks Don, for posting this. Besides profiling Granz himself, hopefully this will give great insight into an important slice of jazz history and some of its greatest performers.

Agreed. I'm a little concerned, given the title of book, that it may be more of a social commentary than a straight up biography. Something along the lines of Douglas Henry Daniels' book about Lester Young.

My concern with the original title would be that it would be a bit too sympathetic. Grantz has always struck me as a fairly complex figure. Certainly deserving of a good biography!

gregmo

[JamesJazz]

I am reading the Granz book and it is excellent.

Hershorn does his subject justice. Granz' reluctance about biographies in general was they would miss the central point of his life: He used jazz to fight racial injustice.

Granz cooperated to a degree and brought Hershorn to Geneva for two weeks. Tad has done one helluva job of painting a picture of this complex man.

[tranemonk]

This is definitely next on my list...

I am reading the Granz book and it is excellent.

Hershorn does his subject justice. Granz' reluctance about biographies in general was they would miss the central point of his life: He used jazz to fight racial injustice.

Granz cooperated to a degree and brought Hershorn to Geneva for two weeks. Tad has done one helluva job of painting a picture of this complex man.

[AllenLowe]

I read a bunch of it in galleys and can recommend it without reservation - well written and fascinating.

[Dan Gould]

While I'm interested in Granz' life and will definitely read it, I hope there's plenty of insight or portraits of the many artists he knew and either presented or recorded or both.

[JamesJazz]

There are many insights about Ella, Oscar Peterson, and Granz' somewhat complicated relationship with Duke. Know who his closest musical friends were during his early concert years in LA? Hodges, Blanton and Pres...there is also a neat exchange with Hawk - probably one of the few times Granz deferred to someone. But Hawk told other musicians that Granz could be trusted and that helped set the stage for Norman's life work. Fascinating stuff. Also a funny story about Granz presenting rock bands and Carlos Santana, and the time Granz, Benny Carter, and Oscar marched to the balcony after a show to dispatch a couple of idiots who were heckling Ella. Not to mention his friendship with Picasso, etc etc. Something of value on nearly every page.

If you're near Detroit over Labor Day weekend, Tad will be giving a talk during the Detroit Jazz Festival. Copies of his book will be available.

[JSngry]

...there is also a neat exchange with Hawk - probably one of the few times Granz deferred to someone.

Hawk seems to have had that effect on most people...I know his music seems to have that effect on me...just so regal, something you can respectfully go a different place from, but nothing you'd ever want to challenge, much less deny. Can't do it. It's just too fundamentally right.

[Dan Gould]

Read this over the weekend in Puerto Rico - highly recommended. JamesJazz's comments are right on the money in all ways.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Think I'll go for this, too. My view of Granz is probably far too simplistic.

MG

[RiRiIII]

A fabulous reading for all these artists and recordings , and the responsible man behind all this, that have become part of the essence of our lives.

Alex