Jazz Book / Video Reviews
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An Evening With Scott Hamilton & Friends featuring special guest Michael Feinste by Various Artists
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For those who enjoy ice skating and jazz, this DVD is a firstrate journey featuring Scott Hamilton and Michael Feinstein, and others. Darlene Love, sixties pop singer (she had such hits as "He's A Rebel," and "Da Doo Ron Ron") also appears. What sets this DVD apart from the many is its concentration on quality showmanship, and...
(Other)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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An Unsung Cat by Safford Chamberain
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An Unsung Cat..The Life And Music Of Warne Marsh by Safford Chamberlain, Scarecrow Press
Safford Chamberlain has amassed ten Years of research into the complex life of Warne Marsh, the underrated and (unsung) Tenor Saxophonist and as a result has penned a fascinating book which traces Marsh's beginnings in Los Angeles to his alliance with Lennie Tristano, the blind...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by John Gilbert |
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Anyone Can Play Drum Set (DVD with instruction booklet) by Gene Holter
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For those wanting to learn how to play drums, and receive a fine understanding of what drumming is, this material by highly respected drum teacher Gene Holter is a perfect guide. Holter has taught band in public schools for many years and has played drums professionally for over 25 years.
Anyone Can Play Drum Set is a 60 minute...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Anyone Can Play Piano (DVD and Book) by Beth Adams
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All-new No-Hassle Piano Lessons from Mel Bay
This unusual 48-page book with DVD is one of the most effective ways of learning piano to come along in a long time. Nearly everything a beginning piano student needs can be found on this DVD and paperback.
Seeing (and hearing) is believing, when it comes to this high-quality method by Beth Adams. Tempo, scales, finger positioning,...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Apprentice Magician: Contemporary Painting, 2000 - 2006 by Luiz Gerald Dolino Nascimento
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This reviewer was recently introduced to the remarkable surreal abstract art of Dolino by jazz guitarist-singer, Paulinho Garcia. Dolino is a great admirer of jazz and some of his fantastic, creative paintings reflect jazz themes. This book features such jazz-oriented acrylic on canvas themes as "Swing" (2002), "Alice in Wonderland" (2005), "Bebop" (2005), among others.
Dolino signs his colorful art...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Arranging the Score: Portraits of the Great Arrangers by Gene Lees
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Gene Lees deserves a solid round of applause for the excellent work he completed in the writing of ARRANGING THE SCORE: PORTRAITS OF THE GREAT ARRANGERS. There are comments, dialog, analysis of works, and how it came to be with each arranger's background. Following the interesting foreword by Jeffrey Sultanof, there comes the introduction followed by chapters....
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Artie Shaw: His Life and Music by John White
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John White's biography of Artie Shaw will amaze you with this jazz legend's life and times and music, an indepth look at what Shaw did and created with his music. There is only one Artie Shaw when it comes to the clarinet, and at this point in time, no other performer has come close to approaching his techniques....
(Biography)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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As Though I Had Wings by Chet Baker
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Discovered after Chet Baker's death, this hand-written memoir of his life is a remarkable look at the trumpet legend's life. This is the lost memoir of Chet Baker. Chet Baker has a nice writing style, and his attention to detail is excellent. Born at Yale, Oklahoma on December 23, 1929, the memoir reveals Baker's growing up,...
(Biography)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Barry Galbraith Guitar Solos, Volume 2 by Compiled by Jim Lichens
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For those who became interested in the Barry Galbraith guitar solos and purchased the first volume for their home library, here is volume 2 with play-along CD compiled by Jim Lichens. Enjoyable, it is also a great guitar learning adventure. The song selections are from the American Songbook. They include "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face,"...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Barry Galbraith Guitar Solos: Thirteen Standards by Compiled by Jim Lichens
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Jim Lichens deserves congratulations on compiling these thirteen standards as arranged by Barry Galbraith. The book comes with a CD which adds to the enjoyment of the songs presented. Barry Galbraith's guitar solos include the following intricate arrangements: "For All We Know," "Darn That Dream," "My Funny Valentine," "Alone Together," "I Can't Get Started," "As Time...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Basic Recorder Method by Dr. William M. Weiss
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With the coming of more jazz musicians incorporating the recorder instrument into their performances, Weiss' BASIC RECORDER METHOD is a fine instruction learning book to start with, for it contains everything needed to become a recorder performer. Compact, and easy to read, it is a real joy to work with. I found the background on the recorder...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Basics of Drumming Wall Chart by Mel Bay Publications
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Finally, a basics of drumming wall chart that works and is an easy, at-a-glance approach for drummers! This nice, big poster is reasonably priced and a great reference.
Everything the drummer needs for quick review is printed on this easy to read chart. Among the numerous examples are drag rudiments, a visual guide to the numerous forms involved, time signatures,...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Before Motown – A History of Jazz in Detroit 1920-1960 by Lars Bjorn with Jim Gallert
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This scholarly look at the history of Detroit jazz is the work of college professor Bjorn and influential disc jockey Gallert, who 30 years ago was influential in shaping my love of the music with his Jazz Yesterday radio show on WDET-FM. In the course of a bit over 200 pages, the authors offer a well conceived and executed...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Mark E. Gallo |
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Beginning Fiddle Solos by Stacy Phillips
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For the jazz violinist, this is a fiddler's delight. It comes with an exciting CD to play-along with. Stacy Phillips has put together a remarkable collection of tunes and fine instruction that will benefit any player interested in this area. There are photos of important fiddlers including one of the great trumpet player and violinist, Ray...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Bird Lives!: An Evan Horne Mystery by Bill Moody
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The death of one saxophone player is a tragedy, the murder of several is a jazz session from hell.
The author Bill Moody who is a professional jazz drummer himself, who perfectly blends the music of jazz with mystery in his newest Evan Horne novel "Bird Lives."
Jazz pianist Evan Horne is making a comeback, a car accident prevented...
(Fiction)
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| Book Review by Beatrice Richardson |
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Bix: The Definitive Biography of a Jazz Legend by Jean Pierre Lion
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This is the definitive, detailed, highly enjoyable account of the great American jazz figure, Leon Bix Beiderbecke (1903 - 1931). Considered a musical genius, his brief career lasted seven years from 1924 to 1931. He is considered by many performers and critics to be the greatest trumpet player in jazz of all time. Bix's cornet style had a direct...
(Biography)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Blue Monday: Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock 'N' Roll by Rick Coleman
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Rick Coleman has crafted a memorably written masterpiece in his biography of Fats Domino. What you may have thought you knew about the legend is here, plus much, much more. Fats Domino has had an influence on many genres of music, and he is greatly respected by jazz and blues patrons.
The photos are black & white, and noteworthy because...
(Biography)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Blue Monday: Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock 'n' Roll by Rick Coleman
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He is not Elvis Presley or Buddy Holly, but is indeed a rock 'n' roll legend.
Fats Domino has sold over 100 million copies, yet his reclusiveness has
kept writers at bay-- until now. Interviewed by Rick Coleman in this
first ever biography of the New Orleans singer, Fats Domino's impact on the
world around him is finally...
(Biography)
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| Book Review by Jessica Rae Cortez |
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Blue Nippon: Authenticating Jazz in Japan by E. Taylor Atkins
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BLUE NIPPON is
going to open many eyes to what has been happening to Japanese jazz over the
decades, from its 1920s dancehalls to the present. Author E. Taylor Atkins
reveals in detail the ways in which the World War 2 situation forced new
concepts into acceptance, how the Japanese nationalists attempted to force a
ban on jazz which failed, and what happened after...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Blues Grooves for Harmonica by Doc Span & Ross Williams
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BLUES GROOVES FOR HARMONICA by Doc Span and Ross Williams is a topnotch introduction on how to learn blues for the harmonica. It comes with a detailed 28-page book. The book gives a brief history of the harmonica, a discussion of rock, funk, rhythm, blues, elements of music, tone, harmony, melody, tips for tongue blocking, approaches to dynamics,...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Blues/Boogie Solos For Piano by Paul T. Smith
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Paul T. Smith's BLUES/BOOGIE SOLOS FOR PIANO is an invaluable, compact, well-crafted instruction book that will give beginners and old-timers alike much enjoyment at the keyboards. I would suggest Paul T. Smith's instruction book is something all pianists could enjoy as a learning experience. Playing at the piano, I found these lessons fun to do. It was...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Bossa Nova & Samba For Guitar (with CD) by Mike Christiansen
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For those jazz guitarists interested in honing their skills with bossa nova and samba music for their performances, this is an ideal instruction book to purchase. Everything you need for learning the techniques and stylings is given in clear instruction.
The accompanying CD contains 45 items which are both enjoyable and helpful. Excellent material adds to the CD's enjoyment. The guitar playing...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Boston Boy by Nat Hentoff
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BOSTON BOY is a remarkable book, highly candid, and as a memoir, the book is an excellent example of what fine memoir writing can be. Nat Hentoff grew up in the Roxbury area of Boston in the 1930s and 1940s, and he was forced to confront many things, among them Judaism and anti-Semitism. Today, Hentoff is considered...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Brazilian Jazz Guitar by Arranged by Mike Christiansen and John Zaradin
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BRAZILIAN JAZZ GUITAR will appeal to a wide range of guitarists, and its innovative CD adds to its importance as an item featuring Brazilian music. It is arranged by Mike Christiansen and John Zaradin, both well-known and respected individuals in the jazz world. The book contains chord solo and comping etude for each song. Lead sheets...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Broadway, The Golden Years by Robert Emmet Long
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BROADWAY, THE GOLDEN YEARS has 2 parts, and 8 chapters, with an informative introduction, epilogue, notes, bibliography, and index. There is a photograph section which captures the essence of the individuals this book is concerned with.
In part one, there are 4 sections: "Agnes de Mille," Jerome Robbins: Early Fame," Jerome Robbins: 'West Side Story,'"...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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