Composers Books

I had purchased the best-selling "Moanin'" LP and caught the Shorter-edition of the Messengers in the 60's, but it wasn't until I caught the Messengers in the late 70's, playing the 2nd half of a Newport program that featured Horace Silver on the first half, that I contracted Messengers fever. They were everything that Horace's group was not--thunderous, alive, free and life-affirming--and doing it with unheralded musicians--Dave Schnitter, Bill Hardman, James Williams--who, in effect, put their counterparts to shame.

Goldsher's is the best book-length study on the Messengers that I've seen, devoting as much attention to Schnitter and Hardman as to the more renowned Messengers. The profiles are admittedly short and told from an "outsider's" perspective, but frequently the author nails exactly what's unique about the playing of a Kenny Dorham or Bill Hardman, and in musical terminology that will not exclude the layman.

What remains to be written is a look at the Blakey world from an "insider's" point of view: what it was like to get "up" for each performance, what distinguished, say, an "off" night from an inspired performance, what filled the days while traveling, what personal tensions arose and how they were dealt with, what it was like to feel you had played badly or to anticipate being "terminated."

Although Goldsher's profiles encourage greater appreciation of the hard-edged, professionally "finished" groups of the 60's and 80's, I'm still partial to the richly warm, inventive Mobley ensembles of the 50's and the unsung, exciting "overachievers" of the 70's. Goldsher is one of the few writers to give Walter Davis Jr. his due as a pianist and, especially, composer (though he fails to mention "Backgammon" as well as Mickey Tucker, the gifted pianist who handled Davis' treacherous chordal/rhythmic sequences better than Walter himself).

For the best example of the 70's ensemble along with Davis' extraordinary compositions, there's only one currently available resource: The Jazz Messengers at the Umbria Jazz Festival on DVD. The best examples of the lyrical Mobley Messengers from the 50's is Art Blakey's "The Jazz Messengers" on Columbia (with exceptional ensemble balance and sound that's more spacious and "true" than that of the Blue Note sessions) and Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers "At the Cafe Bohemia" on Blue Note (the combination of Mobley and Kenny Dorham is simply as good as it gets).

After any of the foregoing, the popular "Moanin'" session (my first Blakey recording--memorized, then discarded) sounds merely formulaic, and all of the early 60s Shorter/Morgan/Fuller sessions begin to sound the same.

I'm a drummer and I love Art Blakey so I've got to encourage people to check this book out. This is written from a fan's perspective and provides brief 2-3 page snapshots of all the major players who have played with Art Blakey's jazz messengers from their inception to his passing. He makes no bones about being biased. The author reveres Blakey and his contribuitions and emphasizes Blakey's sidemen to try to turn people onto the band and the music they made.

Blakey was one of the real warriors of the music and his band gave us so many wonderful musicians. The best recommendation for this book is that so many Messengers came out to support this project with interviews and stories about the band and about their relationship with Blakey. Blakey inspires worship, awe, and fear as a musician and a man and that comes through in this book. You do learn a litte bit about some lesser known figures [I'd forgotten Keith Jarrett, Kenny Garrett, and Joanne Brackeen were Messengers] in the band's history.

Mostly this is a great, fun, readable way to learn about the musicians and the leader behind the most legendary long term small group in the history of jazz. I'd recommend this first to fellow drummers, people with a knowledge and interest in small group jazz, and to those listeners who have heard classic albums like "Moanin'", "A Night at Birdland" [w/Clifford Brown], "Free for All", "Album of the Year" and want to put some flesh and meat on the music they heard.

Great man, fun book

5 stars!

I recall Bob dropping by my fathers house in the early 90's to collect things for this book. Little did I know how many of my questions would be answered by this novel. Harry had always been that of a surrogate grandpa figure to me. I was 8 when he died, so alot has gone unanswered ever since.

Being a biography only, it fills you in with what drove Harry to do what he did and all the stumbling blocks encountered along the way (things I have always wondered about).

If you are interested in Harry's musical intsruments, corporeal philosophy, or the tuning set-up he put together, I would suggest getting the book he wrote "Genesis of a Music", sold here at Amazon.

In purchasing Bob's book, you will encounter a path in which a true creative mind was once lead down, unmutilated.....Geordan Mitchell

American maverick iconclast composer mythologised his life history in his own lifetime. Astoundingly, there has previously been very little analytical/musicological or biographical information published on this important and unique American composer. McGeary, in Bitter Music, asserted that nothing COULD be known of Partch's early life. We all agreed. We were wrong. Gilmore has, like a private investigator, meticulously followed the trail which has lain below the sand of the American deserts through which Partch trailed. You won't need to be either a music student or particularly interested in Harry Partch to find this book an utterly fascinating account of this still underrated composer, instrument-maker and 'philosophic-music-man'. It stands as a chronicle of the twentieth century American man, a tangent to the mainstream of arts culture, an important contribution to Depression Era art, as well as obviously to contemporary music and just intonation/tuning matters.

It's always great to play good songs like those on the piano or guitar! Vonda's songs are so good and it's hard to define how great it is to play them! Read Your Mind, 100 Tears Away, This is Crazy Now, Baby... make me want to learn more and more songs from that wonderful songwriter! :) Enjoy playing her songs!

This music book have the songs from the cd of the same name. It's fun to play along with, and the songs are great for anywhere, anyplace and any age.

I will say but a few words. READ THIS BOOK.
Susie speaks of her dad with love and honesty in "down home" language. I felt like we were having coffee and talking on the porch for a few days. This book is EXCELLENT and I can't believe it took me this long to realize this was "out there".
Willie should be very proud of his daughter's efforts...I do wonder where she is today/how she is/etc. I hope life has been good for Susie. It is RARE to find a book written by a famous person's child that isn't full of negative...negative. SUSIE is positive, understanding and a loving daughter. Amen!

What a superb read how refreshing it is to see a star through the eyes of his own daughter. I am now currently reading this book for a third time and I have only had it for a week. It's a must for all Willie Nelson fans. Well done Susie its brilliant.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK ON 98 DEGREES. IT HAS GREAT PICTURES OF THE BOYS, ESPECIALLY NICK, IT HAS GREAT INFO AND MOST OF ALL IT INTERESTING TO READ. I RECOMMEND IT TO EVERY FAN OUTHERE,I KNOW I LOVED IT.

OH MY GOSH! I LOVE THIS BOOK! IT HAS REALLY AWESOME PICTURES IN IT, AND THE BOOK ITSELF WAS VERY INTERESTING!!

The author, Mitch Mitchell was in a unique position to provide a sense of Hendrix as an artist. His interplay with Hendrix as a drummer was like that of the jazz greats ie. Charlie Parker/Max Roach. Lots of discription of the London music scene in the explosive sixties along with the movers and shakers who made it happen. The book's visuals were great with lots of unseen and hard to find pictures of the group, posters and other goodies. The author's mod image was so cool!

NUNCA ANTES HABIA ESCUCHADO JH PERO EL SONIDO DE SU GUITARRA SEMEJABAN LOS TRUENOS DE LOS DIOSES, NOS TRANSPORTABA A OTRA PARTE, DONDE EL RECORDAR ESOS AÑOS DONDE OTRAS BUENAS AGRUPACIONES ESTABAN SONANDO MUY FUERTE EL ESTABA CREANDO NUEVOS SONIDOS QUE NINGUNA OTRA AGRUPACION A PODIDO IGUALAR.....

love this book and story - Our one year old is even trying to sing the song!
Beautiful illustrations. I highly recommend this book

My kids loved reading & singing along with me. The whole story is also a song, the chorus going, 'Mud, mud, glorious mud. Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood, so follow me follow, down to the hollow, & there we will wallow in glorious mud.' Very funny!

This book is very well written and explains Eminem very well.I'm only 12 and I listen to Eminem's language and know not to take his expressions personally.[....]To get to the point argue about his slang all you want .He makes his music for his self not for people to diss him. if you can say no to a ciggrate than you should be able to say no i don't like this,walk away ,turn off the t.v. or the radio.this book is great i give it two thumbs up and two toes up 2. [....]Peace!!!!!

this book is one that all eminem fans or people that are just curious about him should get. I thought that it was interesting but i already new most of the stuff. Im a huge fan and my friend and i have all of his cd's and underground stuff. Look also for the other eminem books because they are also very well written to. Atleast the one that eminem wrote himself. Anyways im out peace.

This book is much more profound than its down-home approach indicates. Dr. Ehly effectively reveals the importance of education in American culture and the centrality of musical education in the process. He addresses the declining state of the American cultural landscape and casts a vision for being a part of its recovery to educational and moral excellence.

This memoir is refreshingly unique - a fictional story interwoven around his and his father's personalities and the life lessons meant to jolt one's mind into deeper thought. Dr. Ehly is one of those few genuinely joyful souls in the world, existing to touch lives in the most profound way. Every student he had left the Conservatory a better musician and a better person. If you read only one memoir, read one that can truly add something to your own life. Hogey does just that.
--Vicki Landes, author of "Europe for the Senses - A Photographic Journal" and UMKC Conservatory of Music, class of 1999

I have just completed the reading of "Homecoming" by Bill Gaither. My heart was truly blessed as I read about the history of some of my favorite Southern Gospel singers. I have been a Southern Gospel lover for many years and sometimes I take for granted all the work that goes into this type of entertainment.

Reading about the early history and background of many of these singers gave me a deep respect and admiration for the sacrifice that many made in years past.

We live in a day when there is all types of music for every type of person. So much of todays music is "shallow" with no depth. But, when one listens or reads the words to some of the songs in the book "Homecoming", you can see the depth and reality of life. As a Christian, these songs give me hope and security. Many of these singers have gone through the laboratory of life, which sometimes deals hard times. But, through it all, God's peace and comfort has substained and given grace to these Southern Gospel Artist.

It is a real joy to read books of this quality. May they continue to be read by many, many people.

To God be the Glory, for great things He has done!

This book is a must for anyone who is interested in the history of Southern Gospel Music. I go to this book often for information about the different singers and writers. The photography is wonderful as well. This book is my favorite reference book for Southern Gospel Music. I highly recommend it to you as well.