Robin D. G. Kelly's Thelonious Monk: The Life & Times of an American Original---to me one of the truly stellar jazz biogs.
Anything by David Hajdu; especially Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life and his biog on Nat Cole. (I've also corresponded w/him and he seems truly nice).
Frank Buchman-Moller's You Just Fight for Your Life---the Story of Lester Young. (All the Pres biogs are worth reading).
Art Pepper's autobiog (written with Laurie Pepper); and Miles (written with Quincy Troupe) are self-gratifying and hampered by loads of BS, but I've read them both numerous times. Pepper is a spellbinding raconteur, and his insight into other musicians' work is interesting to read (if his comments about his own 'genius' are slightly delusional). Miles talking about music has been great food for thought.
The Benson book was mentioned. One thing that cracked me up: some poetic justice. I knew Eddie Diehl for years, and he had a bug up his ass about Kenny Burrell. It had to do with a record date where he was sent home and replaced by Kenny b/c the company wanted a 'name'. He neither ever forgot nor stopped bad-mouthing Kenny's playing til it came out of your ears. I guess it's SOMEWHAT understandable. Eddie WAS one of the best, and a truly good-hearted guy underneath it all. We're all sensitive, and rejection---perceived or real---can really hurt.
Anyway, in George's book when he got the call to go with McDuff he was to replace Eddie. His comments---and they were respectful---were (paraphrasing): '(Eddie) was a formidable musician----not on the level of Kenny Burrell...., but he definitely could play'. Eddie was still alive when that came out. I hope he read it---it MAY have shut his mouth. I doubt it though---shutting Eddie's mouth about ANYTHING, especially guitar players he was jealous of (their stature in the biz, not their playing), was a tall order. But I had quite a chuckle over that one...
My 2020 Mule steel tricone is the perfect jazz guitar for me. To my ears it is hard to beat a resophonic guitars sound. Tickles the ears like a chorus of bells.
No, it got smashed. If there's any semblance of careful packaging, a fall inside a box wouldn't break off the headstock.
The way to protect against that is to ship in a hardshell case, then...
Hi thanks for the comments I sold the original pick guard and tailpiece just have the finger tailpiece for sale. I also went up to 13s with a 14 on the top e and an 18 for the b. This has made a very...
So from what I remember from playing a Heritage JS, is that the top and possibly the back is carved thinner than the Gibson version?
Also didn’t the fingerboard on the Gibson version go into the...
Bill Barker always said that the grain pattern of being wider was no really true. He said carving and tuning were the key. He thought actually the wider grain made for a mellower sound and warmer....
I have done a number of side by side comparisons. I have 4 original DeArmond's of which 2 are 1100's, 1 is a 1000, and the other is the Rhythm Chief. I also have 4 of the reissues. I had one reissue...
They are both talented musicians. Their dad and uncle were pretty good also.
https://youtu.be/eRi3k4yaUc8?si=Iz_N5xr0kLMp1p2C
Boulou, Elios, dad Matelo, and family playing. 1970’s
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The Milkman 100 is a great amp, and being a "Pedal" amp. it could be used very well in a "no amp" situation where one is going direct into a PA.
It is a Class D solid state amp with a tube pre-amp...
Mr.Boulou Ferre follows his own muse in gypsy jazz genre. A unique and gifted talent. Here is a clip you may like. It’s in a bar, after hours, Boulou and Stochelo Rosenberg have a nice, quiet jam.
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I haven't had a guild reissue on my instruments but I've seen/heard/noodled on one that did and it sounded good. I've heard from people that Guild is doing a very good job with them.
As already being pointed out by many electric guitar into an acoustic amp is not a recipe for a great sound, which I totally agree with. If crispy acoustic like rhythm sound is the target, why not...
Video: The Harmonic Minor Scale in Jazz
Today, 10:47 AM in Improvisation