Jazz & Fusion Biographies?

**tribalfusion** · 01-01-2019, 04:00 PM

**tribalfusion** · 01-03-2019, 08:33 PM

Not one suggestion or comment?

**Jazzstdnt** · 01-03-2019, 09:16 PM

I've read Bathed in Lighting and Improvising, about John McLaughlin and by Larry Coryell, respectively. I've also read a story about Miles Davis, written by his son. Not pretty.

It would be great if John would write and publish his memoirs. That would really be something.

Anybody read the Benson book? He's a very entertaining story teller.

**zeepot** · 01-04-2019, 12:31 AM

These are interviews, not exactly biographies, but you may find some interesting stories. There are about four guitarists from the first link, about a dozen from the second:

Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program

Hamilton Jazz Archive

**Cunamara** · 01-04-2019, 03:11 AM

Steve Jordan's autobiography (Rhythm Man, I think it's called) is a enjoyable read. Life as a big band rhythm guitarist and sometime vocalist.

Harrison Stephens' bio of George Van Eps, linked above, is about the only one there is. Interesting if written more as if from a fan or friend rather than a professional, which I thought gave it some charm.

Is there a bio of Joe Pass?

**Lobomov** · 01-04-2019, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by tribalfusion

Not one suggestion or comment?

This ... A word of recommendation is much more valuable than just a list

**LukeReinhart** · 01-04-2019, 06:26 AM

I've read the Pat Martino autobiograpy that was published recently. I love his playing, not so keen on his teaching or explanations of his life though.

I'd be interested to know where the story is that Miles Davis's son wrote, mentioned by Jazzstnd above?

I'd agree that rather than just a list of titles or links, that some kind of mini review would be really useful.

**guitarbuddy** · 01-04-2019, 02:51 PM

I've read Martino's, Benson's, & Zappa's autobiographies, and I've read a C. Christian bio though IDK if it's the same one you listed. I'm pretty sure I've read Ivor Mairants' one as well. Others include autobiographies by Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Art Pepper, Hampton Hawes, Charles Mingus, Bill Crow, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, and - while not "jazz," Peter Duchin's, who was the son of popular bandleader and pianist Eddie Duchin and a pianist/bandleader in his own right. Duchin's was actually very enjoyable just from the standpoint of what an interesting, charmed life he led. He dated Kim Novak and Ava Gardner for starters. Then there are ones written by authors other than the artist, on Billy Strayhorn, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong Charlie Parker, Wes Montgomery, Nat King Cole, and probably others I've forgotten. I've also read a lot of the standard-issue jazz history books by Marshall Stearns, Gunther Schuller, Frank Tirro, Ted Gioia, Ira Gitler, James Lincoln Collier, yada yada. When I graduated from high school with the aim of being a pro jazz guitarist and not intending to go to college I figured it was my job to learn as much as a I could from the materials available at the time.

**sgcim** · 01-04-2019, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Jazzstdnt

I've read Bathed in Lighting and Improvising, about John McLaughlin and by Larry Coryell, respectively. I've also read a story about Miles Davis, written by his son. Not pretty.

It would be great if John would write and publish his memoirs. That would really be something.

Anybody read the Benson book? He's a very entertaining story teller.

I read the Benson autobiography. It's hard to be enthused about a book that ends with benson agreeing with a fan of his that Charlie Parker destroyed jazz...

**corpse** · 01-04-2019, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by sgcim

I read the Benson autobiography. It's hard to be enthused about a book that ends with benson agreeing with a fan of his that Charlie Parker destroyed jazz...

Benson thinks Charlie Parker destroyed jazz by playing all the best stuff possible, or that Charlie Parker changed the direction of jazz for the worse?

**gunksman** · 01-05-2019, 09:12 AM

You focused on guitar, but the best one’s on my bookshelf are:
Mingus- beneath the underdog
Art Pepper- Straight life
Hampton Hawes - Raise up off a me

**dot75** · 01-05-2019, 09:57 AM

Neither fusion nor guitar but Basie's is fun too - I think it's called 'The Boy From Redbank', Geoff Dyer's 'But Beautiful' is excellent too...an imagined life of Lester Young

**sgcim** · 01-05-2019, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by corpse

Benson thinks Charlie Parker destroyed jazz by playing all the best stuff possible, or that Charlie Parker changed the direction of jazz for the worse?

Benson thinks Charlie Parker changed jazz for the worst, according to his autobiography.
But he 'modestly' states that Bird's innovations in music have been adapted by players like him (GB), and they have given new life to the music of today.

**guitarbuddy** · 01-05-2019, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by gunksman

You focused on guitar, but the best one’s on my bookshelf are:
Mingus- beneath the underdog
Art Pepper- Straight life
Hampton Hawes - Raise up off a me

Yeah, I mentioned those as well. My fave of the three is Hawes's, because despite living a difficult life he came off as a positive person.

**pcsanwald** · 01-05-2019, 03:26 PM

first, a recommendation that deserves its own thread: Nate Chinen's "Playing Changes". If you care about jazz, buy this book and read it. I've read it twice! No better writing on 90s and 00s jazz.

I love biographies and love jazz, so I've read a bunch and continue to. Recently there have been a bunch of good ones:

Thelonious Monk: If you haven't read Robin D.G. Kelley's book on Monk, it's a must read. The author paints an amazing picture of Monk's life, which was not easy. If you've ever wondered how Monk could quit music in his final years, read this.

Duke Ellington: Terry Teachout did an excellent bio of Duke a few years back, quite controversial (Teachout has some interesting opinions on Duke's long form works), but, generally a great read.

Gary Burton: Really great read, especially from the perspective of running a jazz band. Lot of interesting moments, like when Gary tells Pat Metheny that he should expect to lose money his first few years of running a band on the road and pat is shocked. Also the understandable lengths that Gary goes to to get (and keep) Roy Haynes in his band. Really de-mystifies a lot of things about the jazz business in the 70s-90s.

Fred Hersch: One of my favorites recently. Fred chronicles his life as a jazz musician, his time running a studio, health issues, etc. Again, Fred is very candid about his life and upbringing and it's just great to read how a well-off kid from ohio got to be a super heavy jazz pianist through almost force of will.

Herbie Hancock: Very candid about Herbie's struggles with substance abuse and relatively shocking revelation in this regard. Herbie is such an idol of mine that it's hard for me not to like this book, although it's a little less memorable than the others.

Peter Erskine: A must read if you're a weather report fan. If you're not, probably ok to skip.

John McLaughlin, bathed in lightning: I found this book fairly tedious for whatever reason. A lot of very specific details of John's early career, which would be fascinating if I was more familiar with the british jazz scene and its participants at the time, which I wasn't. I also found the whole Sri Chimnoy thing extremely creepy.

**Cunamara** · 01-06-2019, 11:27 AM

I started reading Kelley's bio of Monk about a week ago. So far it is an amazing piece of biographical writing. He is a gifted and thorough writer, painting a picture not only of the man Thelonious but also the forces and choices that shaped him.

**gunksman** · 01-06-2019, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by guitarbuddy

Yeah, I mentioned those as well. My fave of the three is Hawes's, because despite living a difficult life he came off as a positive person.

I dug Hampton Hawes’ but I see him as more of an infantile abuser. He ends the book feeling great about having beautiful chritmas with his new wife and hoping the woman who stuck with him through unbelievable amounts of shit is having a good holiday! Really dig the man’s music, but his behavior was pretty reprehensible. His book got me into his music, which isn’t typical for me.

The Pepper and Mingus books have held up to multiple reads. I’ve read a ton of jazz bios, but those two are the only ones that have left a really strong impression on me. They were as flawed as Hampton or me or anybody else, too.

**Zephyr690** · 01-06-2019, 03:56 PM

Stan Levey's Jazz Heavyweight is a good one. I also thoroughly enjoyed One long tune about Lenny Breau

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

**corpse** · 01-07-2019, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by sgcim

Benson thinks Charlie Parker changed jazz for the worst, according to his autobiography.
But he 'modestly' states that Bird's innovations in music have been adapted by players like him (GB), and they have given new life to the music of today.

Wow. That is one of the more absurd things I've ever heard.

**Namelyguitar** · 01-07-2019, 09:21 PM

It's usually autobiographies for me when available, then biographies. This autobiography seemed very telling, and honest considering the challenges, and difficulties he experienced: Miles Davis <--- Amazon link.

Lots of great suggestions in this thread! My reading list is growing.