Jazz Book / Video Reviews
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Let's Get To The Nitty Gritty: The Autobiography of Horace Silver by Horace Silver
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Readers who have listened to the jazz sounds of Horace Silver will find his autobiography both insightful and entertaining. There is a foreword by Joe Zawinul. The book is edited with afterword by Phil Pastras. Both men have provided much information that is essential to understanding the remarkable jazz genius that is Horace Silver. Silver was born in Norwalk, Connecticut...
(Autobiography)
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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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Practising without Problems: Mental Training For Jazz Musicians by Michael Gustorff
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This is the new, second edition of Practising without Problems: Mental Training For Jazz Musicians by Michael Gustorff. The chapters are short, concise, and reflect a thoughtful writer at work, whose goal is to share information on mental training for perfected practice as it applies to jazz listeners and jazz musicians. On a wider scale, the techniques given by...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Josephine Baker: Image & Icon by Edited by Olivia Lahs-Gonzales
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What would jazz be without the legendary Josephine Baker? She was a classic, unique unto herself, and this fine book is a non-fiction, biographical look at what, who, and where she was. Carefully edited by Olivia Lahs-Gonzales, the book also includes essays by Bennetta Jules-Rosette, Tyler Stovall, and Olivia Lahs-Gonzales.
This book is rich with photographs, many of which will be...
(Biography)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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City of Gabriels: The History of Jazz in St. Louis, 1895 - 1973 by Dennis Owsley
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City of Gabriels reveals the wonders that make up the jazz history of St. Louis, Missouri from the years 1895 to 1973. The book contains a fine foreword by Clark Terry. The book is published in collaboration between Reddy Press, and the Sheldon Concert Hall and the Sheldon Art Galleries at St. Louis, Missouri.
Dennis C. Owsley is an engaging...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Steve Lacy: Conversations by Jason Weiss
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"Another Reason I've read a lot about painters and what not is because a lot of the writing about jazz is not good enough," Steve Lacy says in Conversations, edited by Jason Weiss. This quote is one of several idealized opinions seen in this collection of thirty plus interviews that the soprano saxophonist gave.
Lacy is known for his playlist...
(Other)
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| Book Review by Jessica Rae Cortez |
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Work Songs by Ted Gioia
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Another Deeply Perceptive Music History from Ted Gioia
Ted Gioia is well-known to jazz readers and music scholars, thanks to his best-selling book The History of Jazz and his recent Healing Songs. He is noted for finely-tuned prose and an uncanny ability to get to the heart of the matter. A gifted pianist and composer, Gioia is a co-founder of Stanford...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Mel Bay's Complete Jazz Trumpet Book by William Bay
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William Bay is one of Mel Bay Publication's most prolific authors. His Complete Jazz Trumpet Book is quite possibly one of his finest works yet. This one-stop-shop contains all the exercises needed to learn jazz trumpet.
The purpose of this book is to help the trumpet player to read and interpret jazz music. As such, Bay succeeds brilliantly. The chord...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Trumpet Handbook (Book and CD) by William Bay
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As an expert teacher, William Bay has a gift for clarity. He explores his subject matter carefully then presents the information in a clear and concise manner. Trumpet Handbook is another example of his skills as a teacher.
Trumpet Handbook comes with a handy play-along CD. The unified instructional method includes tuning and warm-ups, exercises in triplets and intervals,...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Healing Songs by Ted Gioia
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Scholarly and Spiritual New Book From Noted Jazz Writer
Ted Gioia is an independent scholar widely known as the author of best-seller The History of Jazz. A gifted pianist and composer, Gioia is a co-founder of Stanford University's program in Jazz Studies. His recorded discography includes End of the Open Road and Tango Cool.
Healing Songs provides a penetrating look at therapeutic...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Shades of Blue by Sarah Watts
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Another Fine Artist Songbook from Mel Bay
This sixteen-page collection of orginial songs by Sarah Watts will delight her jazz fans and piano students alike. It is a nice publication from Mel Bay Publications, demonstrating an intimate approach to "shades of blue" as only Watts can paint them!
The Shades of Blue songbook includes quality transcriptions of "Angels," "Catz," "Chandelier Secrets,"...
(Other)
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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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Keyboard Latin Grooves for the Creative Musician (Book and CD) by Rogelio Maya
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Keyboard Latin Grooves for the Creative Musician is a creative work indeed. Rogelio Maya has designed his method in an engaging, educational, and enjoyable manner. The complimentary audio CD further rounds out the student's experience.
There are over ninety-nine Latin style rhythms in this well-organized book. After learning these fundamental rhythmic approches to Latin music, the pianist can easily adapt them...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Wes Montgomery: Best of Boss Guitar by Transcribed by Peter Gaarn Jylor & Edited by Henry Johnson
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Mel Bay has done a great service to the memory of jazz guitar legend Wes Montgomery with the publication of this fine paperback. Carefully transcribed by Peter Gaarn Jylor and edited by Henry Johnson, this item will appeal to a large jazz guitar audience. For those who recall the magic and joy of Wes Montgomery's performances, this is a...
(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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Trumpet Method by William Bay
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The first thing you notice about Mel Bay's new Trumpet Method is its hands-on accessibility. Spiral-bound for ease of use, it contains material that will put the would-be jazz trumpet player on the road to success. This is another fine work written by William Bay, and clearly written with many keen insights.
William Bay's Trumpet Method makes for enjoyable reading. ...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Introduction to Trumpet (Book and CD) by Rainer Auerbach
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Another Great Introduction to Trumpet from Mel Bay Publications
Born in 1956 at Zwickau, Germany, Rainer Auerbach has established himself as a leading trumpet player and teacher. His writings on the trumpet are well-known internationally. In this book, which comes with a CD, Auerbach offers a trumpet method for beginners which is clearly stated and highly educational. This course on...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Drum Basics (Book and CD) by Hans-Peter Becker
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Drum Basics by Hans-Peter Becker is one of the finest drum basics books created. Born in 1961, Becker studied at the Percussion Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, California. He continues to work as a live performer and as a studio drummer. He is a teacher and founder of the Modern Drum School.
The most intriguing aspect of Drum Basics is...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Drum Rudiments: A Simple Approach by Mat Marucci
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Mat Marucci is a well-known and respected performer and educator. He has performed with Jimmy Smith, Buddy De Franco, Les McCann, John Tchicai, among many others. As a drummer, his recordings have been popular, and well-received critically. Marucci has authored several books on drumming, and this is one of his finest. Samples of his playing can be heard at...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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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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From Afro-Cuban Rhythms To Latin Jazz by Raul A. Fernandez
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Raul A. Fernandez has written a fine book about the development of Afro-Cuban Rhythms and Latin jazz. His prose sparkles with insights and accurate data. If you are new to this material, you will discover it is a priceless work for reference; if you are wanting something unusual in scope, this book will also attract you as a reader!...
(Non-Fiction)
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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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Guitar Journals: Chords by William Bay
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The work of William Bay relating to guitar instruction is always on target. He gives material that is both helpful and enjoyable. His latest entry on chords is excellent.
My knowledge of many instruments is varied, and my ability to play them is workable. This guitar book has it all, and is a most useful item to have handy for...
(Musical Instruction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Louis Armstrong's New Orleans by Thomas Brothers
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Thomas Brothers has written a passionate, intimate story about early twentieth-century New Orleans, and it is truly an exciting account where truth is much stranger than fiction. This is a story of a unique American city and a unique American jazz artist.
There are many scenes and locations covered, including Funky Butt Hall. The earthy, wonderful foundations of early American...
(Non-Fiction)
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| Book Review by Lee Prosser |
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Gil Evans: Out of the Cool: His Life and Music by Stephanie Stein Crease
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Award-winning Gil Evans Biography is as Complex and Perceptive as his Music
Gil Evans (b.1912-d.1988) was a legendary jazz composer, arranger, and band leader active to the end, but he will always be remembered for his Miles Davis collaborations: Birth of the Cool, Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain, Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall, and Quiet Nights. Author...
(Biography)
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| Book Review by David Seymour |
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