Jazz changes / Martin Williams.

Author/creator Williams, Martin
Format Book
Publication InfoNew York : Oxford University Press, ©1992.
Descriptionxi, 317 pages ; 22 cm
Subjects

Contents Part I: Mostly musicians. Earl Hines: in appreciation -- Winnowed ways: a conversation with Bob Wilber -- Billie Holiday: anatomy of a tragedy -- Brookmeyer, Mulligan, and the concert jazz band -- Outspoken trumpeter -- Dial days: a conversation with Ross Russell -- John Lewis: spontaneous restraint -- Recording with bags -- Steve Kuhn, piano -- Rehearsing with the Jimmy Giuffre -- Giuffre/Brookmeyer reunion -- A night at the five spot -- Ornette Coleman: the musician and the music -- Three men on a bass: Scott LaFaro ; Steve Swallow ; Gary Peacock -- Pharoah's tale -- Part II: Jelly Roll at the Library of Congress. Boyhood memories -- "The Animule Ball" -- Discourse on jazz -- Creepy feeling -- Georgia skin game -- The pearls -- Mamie's blues -- The murder ballad -- Jack the bear -- Buddy Bolden's legend -- The Storyville story -- Part III: Program notes. First recordings: Quintet of the Hot Club of France -- Dinah Washington: "The queen" -- The weary blues and other poems, read by Langston Hughes -- Art Blakey's jazz messengers with Thelonious Monk -- Solo Monk -- The art of John Coltrane -- National jazz ensemble -- Art Pepper: "Gettin' together" -- Ornette Coleman's crisis -- Vintage Dolphy -- Part 4: Reviews and observations. Monk unique -- Collected Bird -- Herbie Nichols introspect -- Silver explorations -- Three on Cannonball -- Composers' dilemmas -- The MJQ in Europe -- Poetry from the Delta -- Double concert -- Monk and Coltrane -- Jazz clubs come and go -- The Ellington era -- Four pianists: four minority views. Oscar Peterson ; Marial Solal ; George Shearing ; Ahmad Jamal -- Celebrating a centennial -- Concert with high moments -- Spoofs in a set of two -- Some kind of advance guard -- Recognition, prestige, and respect: they're academic questions.
Abstract This book is the late author's third and perhaps best collection of jazz portraits, interviews, narrative accounts of recording sessions, rehearsals, and performances, important liner notes, and far reaching discussions of musicians and their music. The collection includes thirty years of Williams's finest pieces taking readers on an engaging tour of the changing jazz world. There are appreciation-profiles and comments on such performers as Ross Russell--about the noted Dial Record sessions with Charlie Parker--and greats like John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Jelly Roll Morton, Ornette Coleman, Dinah Washington, and Thelonious Monk. The author also offers parodies of how jazz critics in 1965 might have assessed the Beatles, and reflections on the Ellington era. He concludes with an elegant plea for critics to pay attention to jazz history, always exhibiting his keen mind and gifted pen.
Local noteLittle-287323--305130049244Z
General noteIncludes index.
LCCN 91009116
ISBN019505847X

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Music Music Stacks ML3507 .W525 1991 ✔ Available Place Hold