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...
With reference to the arch, I recall my Elitist Broadway had a slightly more pronounced arch, and more pronounced recurve, and over all a more beautiful (to me) curve, than even my L5ces did. It was...
I play with the neck angled up fairly high (45 degrees, or maybe a bit more). I don't find that the strap button position makes any difference at all in terms of playing comfort or suitability for...
I'm a little confused by this thread. Last year a 90s Gibson Le Grand went unsold at a $7-8k list on this forum for several months. What's special (other than the name) in this JS to command such a...
TBH, I haven’t used the effects loop in my Blu and don’t recall seeing a level switch for it. It’s about 18 months old - I’ll look when I get home tonight.
With the 5 fret grip, you can play a scale from the first to 12 frets with 4 positions.
"you’d still get different fingerings every time you move up a fret"
Not many, much fewer fingerings than...
Monk's Mood
Today, 04:25 PM in The Songs