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...
He is the most sentimental, even romantic sax player. He reminds me of the way Nat King Cole sings. Maybe Peter Bernstein with his excellent sense of melody comes close.. But really, his thing is a...
Me tooooooo
I take one example and then tinker with it in a gazillion possibly pointless ways for a month and a half and then get bored and put a bookmark in at example 1b and get into something...
Ben had a beautiful, tasteful style. I was always surprised at the amount of air you could hear escaping as he played. I agree that there isn't really a guitaristic equivalent to that sound. Playing...
My first was an Apple IIE in 1981 - lease-purchased it to keep the books for my store but ended up playing games on it and ended up sending it back. I remember this very complicated game called...
Anyone using this tuner and who would recommend it?
My requirements:
Clip-on (not looking for pedal etc)
Easily readable display (whatever the lighting conditions)
Preferably rechargeable...
Interestingly I have real trouble with study groups like this. I think I like to spend a lot of time on one thing. A LOT of time. I find groups move on too quick.
I’m quite thick you see.
...
It has been a long time coming but the Johannes Haage interview is finally here.
The first 40 minutes discusses what Johannes got from the Mick Goodrick Almanacs etc.
The rest of the interview...
Hate them. An abomination on the beautiful aesthetics of the traditional guitar and violin. Did Stradivarius have sound ports?
OK rant over. I never believed in them, until I tried one and I...
All this talk about fingering and positions... sheesh... makes me feel a little squirrelly.
BUT I have decided to change up ow I play measures 5-8 since it seems to be hanging me up and I see nobody...
I use the Page in the FX loop of the Boss and use the 4 X 10 Fender Bassman setting on the Boss;
The Page does what the Boss can't do- add some real tube warmth.
D'Addario Eclipse Rechargeable Headstock Tuner
Today, 01:55 PM in Guitar, Amps & Gizmos