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...
I know the party line is that GBs are just JSs with blue silk wrap. But they definitely make my AF207 sound much better - the tone is richer top to bottom. I don’t think one or two thou of...
From your description, it could be an issue with the amp itself.
Does the amp buzz appreciably when no guitar cord is plugged in? If not, the problem could be the guitar cord itself. Try to...
I ordered a Superblock US and got it yesterday and while waiting for my Toob 6.5GP go come in I just went ahead and tried this thing via headphone out. This headphone out is definitely the best I've...
There is a product that was reviewed in GP. Company called Aero Instruments.
It looks like a penny at the end of a piece of wire. You attach the wire to ground and you put the penny against your...
Beyond words - stunning performance. 100% standing ovation from 500 strong audience in L'Astrada theatre/auditorium near the site of the annual festival in Marciac, Gers, France. Rythym Section of...
RJVB, this guitar was made by Herbert Todt, one of the great master makers of GDR. Todt made many fine carved archtops for other luthiers (or should I say resellers?), not only spectacular show...
We have been meeting regularly and have 3 gigs lined up, the first being at the end of May.
Plenty of time to practice or so we thought. I got a text this morning to see if I could fill for...
My amp did something similar and I sat for ages tapping different bits of pickup and string to make it stop. I even attached a wire from the bridge to the jack socket as an extra earth. I eventually...
Julian Lage Trio - Sat 27th April - Marciac,...
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