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...
Here are a couple of things I tried this afternoon.
1. I actually could not identify the 12AX7 that came with the amp, though it definitely sounded good. The EL34 is a TAD Redbase, and it seems...
Well, I'm not so sure that even the heaviest of jazz guitar players and composers really "recognise" every tone in a chord. At least that I ever played with.
They've just got a lot of experience...
My basic action height adjustment is 2.0mm for the high E and 2.5mm for the low E.
That's the starting point, the final height depends on many factors of the guitar, the strings, the player, the...
I have decided to sell the Sienna Burst Sadowky Frank Vignola that I bought. I've decided that Ilike nitro lacquered guitars. The FV is similar to an SS-15...but it has two pickups instead of one but...
The guitar arrived. The guitar was stripped of strings and padding was put around the tailpiece and under the pickguard. FedEx did the rest and checked the guitar. It arrived the next day at...
Yes I think it's in C! I didn't saw transcriptions, I learned by ear but I should start to write them...! I don't have enough time and patience to write them properly... But transcribing solos or...
I posted Poinciana which, ironically, is one of the few Bruno performances to make an impression. But I do see your point. Barney had so much feeling, swing, texture, personality and guitaristic...
I try to position the amp so i can hear it, because unless properly miked it will sound worse through the PA. Also i talk to the sound guy if needed, usually in jazz they might cut the treble and...
Yeah, I think I measured about 20mm under the 1st string (down to the top) just in front of the bridge.
I'd thought that I could measure there, tweak the trussrod and then lower the saddle to keep...
Playing live and getting the best sound from the...
Today, 02:08 PM in Guitar, Amps & Gizmos