The Jazz Musician

by Tony Scherman

Book Overview

Joni Mitchell writing about Jaco Pastorious, Quincy Troop on Ornette Coleman, and ten other in-depth profiles of great jazz musicians mark an illustrated collection of memorable articles from Musician... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312095007
• ISBN13: 9780312095000
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 261 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Jazz insights

Say the word jazz and many immediately shy away, jazz is "that other music. " Nothing could be further from the truth as jazz is a vital art form that continues to evolve and is Americas's music. In this fantastic little book some of the greatest musicians that have created or advanced this musical art form to it's current level are either discussed or interviewed. The heavyweights interviewed are the fine and diverse in style saxophonists Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter and Ornette Coleman. Included are an interesting and funny interview with Wyton Marsalis and Herbie Hancock that reveals the differences that muscial interpretations of the purist and the fusion player can be on the same page in many regards. Also a nice chat with trumpeter extraordinaire Dizzy Gillespie with his marvelous puffed out cheeks and several other notable greats. Also there are personality based discussions on John Coltrane, where the giants of jazz give their recollections and impressions of Coltrane and others. The others who are treated in this book with discussion are the late great Miles Davis , Chet Baker, Charlie haden, Lester Bowie and Tony Williams. Of particular interest is an essay by musican /artist Joni Mitchel as she wrties about one of the greatest bass players whose flame burned out much too quickly, Jaco . Besides these musicians it is unlikely and inevitable to not have a discussion of jazz without mentioning the forefathers including Armstrong and "Bird." The interviews are excellent insights into the minds of those that create the music, the reasons, the feelings, the inspiration. Taken from the magazine "The Jazz Musician" this short book is long on information about the lives of the greats of jazz. This book is especially handy since it can be read without going in order of presentation, but at will as one chooses. Recommended for jazz buffs of all ages.