Which jazz book are you reading right now?

[Gheorghe]

A very very good book. And it´s really into Paul Chamber´s music. The author really took much effort in it and reviewed almost everything that Paul Chambers recorded as a leader and as a sideman. Very very good writing. 

[sidewinder]

Great find today for a few pounds. As new hardback copy of this fine volume. Time to dig out the Ellington Complete Newport ‘56 CDs !

[Big Beat Steve]

How many pages do they dedicate to Paul Gonsalves' rabble-rousing 27-chorus solo (on you know which tune)?

[sidewinder]

59 minutes ago, Big Beat Steve said:

How many pages do they dedicate to Paul Gonsalves' rabble-rousing 27-chorus solo (on you know which tune)?

There is a full chapter on the Gonsalves solo - about 10 pages.

One of the strengths of the book looks to be in the wider context setting. There’s good coverage of Columbia Records’ evolution and Duke’s recent history up to that point. Plus plenty of Newport ‘56 photos and eyewitness accounts of course.

Edited July 18, 2023 by sidewinder

[Big Beat Steve]

1 hour ago, sidewinder said:

There is a full chapter on the Gonsalves solo - about 10 pages.

Wow, that sounds like a lot!

Edited July 18, 2023 by Big Beat Steve

[sidewinder]

27 minutes ago, Big Beat Steve said:

Wow, that sounds like a lot!

The whole thing is about 300 pages. Just about right, I think.

[HutchFan]

Ellington at Newport '56 is an excellent book.   

IIRC, there's a wonderful photo in it of EKE and Gonsalves dancing together.  They're offstage somewhere and goofing around just like kids.  I really dig the photo because it's not staged; it's just a moment captured.

The book does a terrific job of showing the very real brotherly affection that the two men had for one another -- even though Gonsalves could be a royal PITA for Ellington sometimes (because of PG's addiction).

 

[sidewinder]

1 hour ago, HutchFan said:

Ellington at Newport '56 is an excellent book.   

IIRC, there's a wonderful photo in it of EKE and Gonsalves dancing together.  They're offstage somewhere and goofing around just like kids.  I really dig the photo because it's not staged; it's just a moment captured.

The book does a terrific job of showing the very real brotherly affection that the two men had for one another -- even though Gonsalves could be a royal PITA for Ellington sometimes (because of PG's addiction).

 

One of my favourite local second hand book outlets had a whole row of Ellington books on display, this being one of them. On first visit I saw this one but the price, although very fair, didn’t get me to pounce. I did buy Ralph Gleason’s tribute volume though. A month or two later on my next visit it was hidden in the shelf priced at £5 so I pounced. Pretty well as-new too !

[Teasing the Korean]

On 7/18/2023 at 6:24 AM, sidewinder said:

The whole thing is about 300 pages. Just about right, I think.

They should have devoted 27 pages to it, one page for each chorus.

[romualdo]

friend of mine found a stack of these (jazz/blues) books at his local markets - I chose a few from him - 50s/60s/70s publications - lots of reading

[RickLopez]

There's this:

Shipping NOW : : : 
https://www.gofundme.com/f/sam-rivers-sessionography

“A dizzying, stunning achievement of research and scholarship. ... A joyful, sometimes psychedelic experience.”
—Mike Chamberlain, allaboutjazz-dot-com

“A model of independent scholarship, ... highly immersive. ... It’s in a limited edition of 724 copies. Don’t snooze on it if you’re just going to kick yourself later.”  
—NPR music critic Kevin Whitehead, at pointofdeparture.org

“I have never encountered anything approaching the obsessive thoroughness demonstrated by Lopez. ... A testament to Rivers’ enduring music and his invaluable role as incubator/advocate/on the bandstand educator. ... Lopez’s infectious enthusiasm proves hard to resist.” 
—Peter Margasak, The WIRE @thewiremagazine

"Rick Lopez’ remarkable Sam Rivers Sessionography: A Work in Progress. It masterfully sums up Rivers’ lengthy and productive career. ... A formidable document. ... Clearly sets the standard for any future work in this format."
—Robert Iannapollo, ARSC Journal

“A Rosetta Stone of insight, and a well-deserved and worthy tribute to an overlooked giant of the music.” 
—Taylor Ho Bynum

"I got my copy of Rick Lopez's magnificent "The Sam Rivers Sessionography: A Work in Progress" ... Lopez has been producing extraordinary sessionographies for 20+ years. ... I raved about his 'treasure troves of information, some of the finest scholarship available on the internet today.' ... Few people are more worthy of your support. ... The book is gorgeous." 
—Tom Hull

“An incredible piece of work. Really something else. Informative and entertaining. ... Anticipating hours of joy.” 
—Barry Altschul

“Absolutely mind-blowing! So great!” —Mats Gustafsson

“An essential resource, a trail map for a rare and beautiful landscape of sounds.” 
—Larry Blumenfeld

“A tremendous document. ... This book is powerful.” 
—Jason Moran

“Lopez’s Sam Rivers sessionography is state of the art.” 
—Lewis Porter

“Rick Lopez’s book is by no means a biography. It’s not a discography either, and it’s not a photo documentation. And yet somehow it is everything at the same time.” 
—Wolfram Knauer review, Jazzinstitut Darmstadt (Jan 2023)

+ Jazz Journalists Association 2022 Book Awards Honorable Mention

[ghost of miles]

Starting this one—looks promising. Anybody on the board cracked it yet? 
 

[ghost of miles]

[Mark Stryker]

On 9/7/2023 at 12:03 AM, ghost of miles said:

Starting this one—looks promising. Anybody on the board cracked it yet? 
 

Yes. Valuable book, especially the insightful, close readings of individual films, and draws out themes and connect the dots between films and generations. 

Edited October 4, 2023 by Mark Stryker

[JSngry]

Is that JMac on the cover, from The Connection? 

[BillF]

1 hour ago, JSngry said:

Is that JMac on the cover, from The Connection? 

Yes indeed, that's The Connection.

[JSngry]

Silly movie imo, but worth watching just to see and hear that music!!!

Has the actual OST ever seen the light of day as a standalone audio? No? 

[BillF]

1 hour ago, JSngry said:

Silly movie imo, but worth watching just to see and hear that music!!!

Has the actual OST ever seen the light of day as a standalone audio? No? 

There was, of course, also the theater production which was a success in New York, but a flop with the unhip London audience. Actors who lodged in the same building as a student friend of mine during the short London run invited him to rehearsals, so he could meet Jackie.

 

 

[JSngry]

I'm hoping against hope that some amateur recording exists of the NY run where Cecil Taylor took over as bandleader (with Archie Shepp in tow) and began improvising dialogue! 

[randyhersom]

Have worked my way through Rollins, Hancock, Threadgill and Gil Evans recently, all pleasurable and fascinating.

Santana and Springsteen in other genres.

 

[John Tapscott]

[mjazzg]

Singularity Codex, Matthew Shipp on RogueArt - @clifford_thornton

This is very readable, about a third in. Great to hear the multiple voices tell the story

[adh1907]

On 10/4/2023 at 8:45 PM, BillF said:

There was, of course, also the theater production which was a success in New York, but a flop with the unhip London audience. Actors who lodged in the same building as a student friend of mine during the short London run invited him to rehearsals, so he could meet Jackie.

 

 

There was a very interesting article by Val Wilmer in a recent Jazzwise about this London production. 

[clifford_thornton]

19 hours ago, mjazzg said:

Singularity Codex, Matthew Shipp on RogueArt - @clifford_thornton

This is very readable, about a third in. Great to hear the multiple voices tell the story

Yes! Thanks!

[Big Beat Steve]

Started reading this recent chance purchase now:

"Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This" by Val Wilmer.

Very interesting and fascinating, and exploring the jazz scene of that period (and its place in society) from a somewhat different angle.

Edited November 22, 2023 by Big Beat Steve