Live at the Village Vanguard

by Max Gordon

Book Overview

Since 1934, the Village Vanguard in New York's Greenwich Village has hosted the foremost in live jazz, folk music, and comedy. Its owner, Max Gordon, has now written a personal history of his club and the hundreds of entertainment legends who have played there. Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen, Woodie Guthrie, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Josh White, Pete Seeger-Max has stories about all of them...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0306801604
• ISBN13: 9780306801600
• Release Date: March 1982
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Hot, Smoky Jazz in a Basement

Max Gordon is a name that will be familiar to lovers of jazz. Anyone who goes to New York City and loves jazz will almost inevitably wind up seeing someone perform live at the Village Vanguard. Many great artists like John Coltrane have recorded live performances there. Gordon was the founder of this legendary club. He found a little basement in Greenwich Village and then proceeded to make jazz history. All the greats like Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker et al played there at one time or another. Lenny Bruce and Woody Allen also performed comedy at the Vanguard. Max Gordon proves to be a very competent author in this book that recounts the history of the club. Gordon discusses the early struggles with getting liquor licenses or dealing with racial segregation. He includes a lot of great antecdotes of his meetings with many of these legends. This book is surprisingly well written and entertaining. This chronicle of his life will be inspiring and educational. Max Gordon has an important story to tell. Jazz is one of America's greatest exports. Max Gordon played a major role in its development. I strongly recommend this book for any fan of jazz. (It is out of print but there are a few copies still being sold at the club itself. If you live in or close to New York City, it would be worth the effort.)