Music Books

I found that "Anatomy of Success" plots a very exacting formula that, unlike anything else I've ever read, gets to the heart of most all areas about which we think and act, in an extremely organized fashion. This helps with regard to empowering our beliefs, managing our time, building self-confidence and self-awareness, etc. These are especially useful in helping us to turn our dreams into realities; the foundation on which my business is based.

Mr. Kaufman's focus on the mental processes that occur within the human psyche concerning attitutes,values and self limiting beliefs is the powerful backbone of this "anatomy" of success book. His book is the first book I've read that concentrated on why my mind circulates information in its present myotic pattern. By examining the goal oriented questions that center on the very words my conscience instructs my body to perform, I have changed the negative, self defeating verbage that narrowed my ability to prosper into a stronger, decisively positive thought process that motivates me to strive for a lifestyle that is uplifting and satisfying.
I have gained fantastic insight through this book and I recommend it to those who wish a more positive outlook.

This book is the author's masterpiece. It contains more information in 300 pages than any other book in the area of personal development. Extracting from various fields and disciplines and following through with great detail, examples and learning techniques, this book is the greatest success manual for anyone.

Have you ever wished that you could find one source that would provide you with the tools and the ability to gain focus and clarity, make the right decisions, save time and energy, eliminate stress and take control of your personal life and professional life? Finally, it's here! In Anatomy of Success, Ronald A. Kaufman gives you unique techniques and step-by-step methods to help you turn your dreams into realities.
An important concept dealt with in the book is that a person's beliefs are essential keys to success. Mr. Kaufman demonstrates how beliefs are formed and explains how your subconscious beliefs determine your behavior and the quality of your life. He shows you how to manage your beliefs, communicate them effectively to achieve your goals and positively change your own and others' lives. You'll learn how to resolve negative emotions from past experiences to rid yourself of excess baggage, and you'll obtain the formula to motivate yourself consistently, ending procrastination forever.
Mr. Kaufman includes special sections to help you control your time, select the right job, build an effective organization and ensure success in your romantic relationship. Throughout the book, he provides the tools, identifies the processes and gives you instructions on how to apply them. Because it is both comprehensive and specific, Anatomy of Success truly is "The Ultimate System for Achieving Your Personal and Professional Goals" and a terrific, self-coaching guide.

After spending thousands of dollars and hours in countless seminars, books, tapes, and videos, on goal setting and success, at last, I found the ultimate guide to building dreams into reality - ANATOMY OF SUCCESS. This is not just another book on motivation or pop psychology like so many out there. This is a comprehensive, research-supported, no-nonsense guide to what one needs to achieve goals that are aligned with one's beliefs and values. It is great for procrastinators and anyone suffering from either fear of failure or fear of success. I am recommending this book to all educators and students that I come in contact with - as a trainer. If you want to really build your dreams and not just talk about them - get this book today and you will understand why I speak of it with such enthusiam and high regard.

As someone new to the singing scene, I find this volume to be my "go to" resource for my voice lessons. Purchased on the recommendation of my voice teacher, it has all the tenor arias you need--wherever you are on the singer's journey...The major repetoire is represented; all the major langugages. From "Amor ti Vieta" to the more recognizable arias, I expect this volume to be with me for years to come.

The book is a great collection. The book was in excellent condition, priced aptly, and delivered promptly. I can trust Amazon.com...

I use this book constantly in my teaching. I love it.

"Arias for Tenor", a G. Schirmer Antholgy(opera), is a plended collection of originally keyed scores of tenor arias from some of the most famous works of all time. Layouts of "Don Giovanni" and "Rigoletto" are just a couple of classics sung by the greats of opera that are obtained by purchasing this book. Whether you are a professional vocalist or an aspiring opera singer, this is definitly a valuable and sound investment.

Sylvester Allen
Greensboro College, NC

As far as i am concerned it's the best book that is just made-written for tenors and people who are students at the conservatories-music schools as me ,should truly benefit from it,

John McNeil is a highly respected Jazz trumpeter and his book is a classic that every aspiring jazz trumpet player should own. I love this book and use it often.

It is important to realise that unlike many other jazz books this book does not set out to try to teach you how to improvise, nor is it a jazz theory book. You would benefit from at least some working knowledge of both these topics before you embark on this book (I would recommend something like Levine's The Jazz Theory Book if you need more background). Instead it helps you to develop the more technical aspects of jazz trumpet playing through exercises, etudes and well-written text.

The first part of the book covers the history of jazz trumpet from about the bebop era onwards, through some discussions of the musical styles of a number of key players and some musical examples.
The hard work starts with a large section on jazz articulation, in which you learn to control your placement of accents on different notes in a phrase and develop a polyrhythmic feel. He provides exercises for wide interval playing - something that is quite hard on trumpet compared to an instrument like the saxophone. Alternate fingerings are covered along with some exercises. He also discusses doodle tonguing made famous by especially by Clark Terry. This is the jazz player's way of tonguing fast passage as opposed to the multiple tonguing used by classical players. He has a useful section on tricky fingering studies which you can even practise without blowing into the horn (useful when the chops are tired).

Although I said that he doesn't try to teach you how to improvise, there are a few useful ideas scattered through the text. For example, after his first articulation study, he gives an example of how you might shift sections of it up or down a semitone at random when you are playing to get an "out" feeling. Putting some randomness into a fixed exercise helps you to exercise the parts of your brain that are needed for improvising without throwing you completely in the deep end. Another exercise he mentions is to play a 1235 or 1535 pattern around the cycle, alternating at random between 1235 and 1535 at random. McNeil describes this particular exercise in more detail in a 2002 journal article for the International Trumpet Guild entitled "Creative Pattern Practice" which is worth scouring the web for - it will give you a good taste of his writing style and his way of thinking about improvisation.

The book also comes with a CD demonstrating some of the exercises and etudes so you can hear what they sound like when performed correctly.

This book is great! The articulation studies are hip and tricky, and you can actually use them in a "real life situation". There are also some interesting articles on various jazz trumpeters. I highly recommend this book.

Without a doubt, John McNeil has done something with this book that has long been overdue. With the advent of jazz education, so much focus has been put on what to play, rather than on how to play it. McNeil presents exercises that go beyond the simple articulation of scales and puts them in real world situations. Furthermore, the author addresses technique issues that most other jazz trumpet books fail to even acknowledge exist. The section on alternate fingerings and different ways of tonging, that are so important to today's jazz improviser, are throughly covered through simple explanation and execution. Not to mention, the accompanying CD has several examples being performed by astute trumpet players who play through them with the ease of a basic stamp warm-up routine.

Quite possibly, the most important part of the book is the section on finger technique. With three pages full of finger twisters for the jazz trumpet player to navigate, the trumpet player will find more fluidity in their performance, resulting in better solos and overall better trumpet facility. This book should be required to be used by every trumpet player, commercial or not. The result will be a much more technically proficient musician, no longer hindered by a lack of technique, but rather, aided by a plethora of it.

I fell in love with it since I bought it on Amazon.com. It quite amaze me since I wanna learn more about jazz. This book would definitely take u far as being the best trumpet player u'll be. I'm also a trumpet player, and 'specially play other instruments I self-taught like the piano, keyboard, organ, harmonica, recorder, trombone, mellophone, French horn, euphonium, percussion, drums, flugelhorn, guitar, etc.

I'm not gonna say "I don't like this or whatever". I think it's a great introduction showing some basics and material work on how you 'gon be good at it. I know a lot of people don't agree what I'm saying. I believe that every trumpet player or music learner perhaps should have this along with Jazz & Blues, Arban's Conservatory Method for Trumpet, 1001 Blues Licks, 1001 Jazz Licks, Building a Jazz Vocabulary, The Jazz Fakebook, 28 Modern Jazz Trumpet Solos, Bks. 1 & 2, 14 Blues and Funk Etudes, and 14 Jazz and Funk Etudes all by Bob Mintzer.

Like this is definitely a book I should keep even tho I wanted practice some more I believe.

Fellow Travelers -

I have found John McNeil's "The Art of Jazz Trumpet" to be truly helpful and inspiring. The exercises presented are tough, though-provoking, and very cleverly focused on amplifying skills that appear - to me at least - to be genuinely useful in a jazz setting. Personally, I see the value of this book less in the applicability of specific lines ("licks") to tunes, and more in improving the improviser's ability to present his/her own ideas with more propulsive articulation, fluidity, and melodic confidence.

There is, of course, a significant (in terms of wood shed frustration) cost factor here - but most players, I suspect, will feel that the improvements are deep and fast enough to fall well within our pain and patience thresholds.

Thanks John for a terrific contribution to the field, and for my (small but enjoyable) personal mini-breakthrough - it has been a long time, and I'm really enjoying the experience.

Bravo.

Jim Stagnitto
www.stagnitto.newhopecollective.com

I've read a lot of instructional books over the years, and this ranks as one of the best. My greatest concern was that it be worth the price, and it certainly is. Explanations are clear, photos and diagrams are excellent and the first chapters on historic and contemporary makers make good reading. The book is ever so slightly thin in the area of plate tuning and violin varnish -- but one might argue that both of these topics are so broad as to justify a separate investment in instructional material. I am confidant, however, that one can make a very good instrument using this book alone as a guide -- with the exception of plans and patterns for a specific model, which are not included. The English generally do a very good job at books addressing traditional arts/crafts, and this publication is no exception. I consider my copy an excellent investment.

I found this to be a fantastic book. It is very well written and beautifully illustrated. The text covers every detail of the art of making a violin. It does lack in a few areas however. I would have been thrilled with the addition of some information on original design and or mechanical drawing of a violin. Also, the book is a bit thin in the areas of plate graduation, tap toning, wood selection, tools and varnish. Overall though, I highly recommend this book; it is more than enough to get anyone started on building their first violin. I'm sure it is the best text currently being published.

This book has the best drawings and photographs of the process of violin making that I have ever seen. Large format, good camera angle, good shadowing and lighting. I have been an amateur violin maker for a long time and I learned about a half a dozen new procedures or tool modifications right away. I highly recommend this book for aspiring violin makers.

I have purchased a few books on Violin making and this is by the far the most impressive of all. This book is full of clever techniques and lead you through the complete process from beginning to end, including the delicate area of varishing. Alternative methods are also give for some key areas, such as hollowing out the back and front of the voilin. The thing that makes this book stand out from the others is the artwork and the photographs that accompany each step of the process and the superb presentation. The tip I liked the best, was how to solve the problem of forming the rib joint at the bottom of the voilin. Being a novice, I struggled with this initially.

If there had to be a criticism it would be that it does not have typical template for the main mould, however this is only minor as templates are available from a various other sources.

This book is worth every penny..

This is not a type of beautifully decorated book usually found on coffee table to amuse guests even though it is of superb quality. It belongs in the workshop. It is written for both inspired and motivated beginners as well as serious luthiers. The chapter on tuning plates is revealing but can confuse a beginner. Since I am a beginner myself, I wished for complete measurements of the violin. I overcame the shortcomings by contacting a supplier of woods, tools and plans. Rest assured, the author included the list of suppliers at the end of the book.

OOOOOhhhhhhhhhh! My daughter loves it so much! She is only a 6 year old and I have encouraged her so much to read because of her love for Ashley Tisdale. When her cousin came over 11 yrs. old, she loved it too!. When she brought it to school to her 1st grade class to read on her free time, they loved it too!!! love it! love it! loveit!

Ashley Tisdale is my role model. I love her. She's my favorite actress and singer. I love watching the Suite Life of Zach and Cody and High School Musical. She's so pretty, funny, and a great actress. I love her album, too. Ashley Tisdale is amazing.

Ashley is so awesome! Anybody who doesn't like her must be CRAZY! I mean, we're talking about ASHLEY TISDALE, not Paris Hilton. So stay with me and give it 5 STARS!!!

My daughters love Ashley Tisdale. They were thrilled with this book about her.

I read a book called Ashley Tisdale: Life is Sweet by Grace Norwich. This book tells you about Ashley and how she has changed over the years. It is an unauthorized biography but the information is factual because it is taken from interviews with Ashley.
Ashley grew up in Westdeal, New Jersey with her mom, dad, and sister, Jennifer. When Ashely was three, her mom took her to a mall where people were auditioning for commercials. Ashley's mom didn't really want to get into all that but when Bill Perlman noticed Ashley, he slipped her mom a business card in case she was interested later. Ashley did her own commercial. A few years lalter, Ashley played Cosette in the Broadway musical, Les Miserables. After that, she also did a lot of guest appearences on TV shows like "Charmed" and "Once and Again." Ashley wanted a part in a TV show. Lucky for her, along came "The Suite Life." Ashley auditioned for both parts (Maddie and London). After a few seasons of "The Suite Life", Ashley was wondering what she was going to do over the break between seasons. Then she found out about "High School Musical". Again, she auditioned for the two main (female) parts. When Ashley realized that she got the part of Sharpay, the snotty, mean girl, instead of the part of Gabriella, the shy math wiz, she was shocked. She thought that because she was the nice Maddie on "The Suite Life", she would be Gabriella. The cast and crew worked really hard. When "High School Musical" aired on Disney Channel for the first time, more than 26 million viewers tuned in. They had no idea how popular it would be! Ashley is still working on "The Suite Life", but she can't wait for "High School Musical 2!"
I would recommend this book to Ashley lovers and people who love to sing and act. This book is wonderful and I hope you like it.

by CH

This fun to read and well researched book explores the rise of Bachata from its obscure beginning as a musical style of the rural and urban poor in the Dominican Republic to its eventual international popularity. It is the only book of its kind in english and a must read for anyone interested in bachata's roots.

Hernandez delves particularly into social conditions and class issues which impacted bachata's formative years. The book traces back the Dominican Republic's musical and social climate beginning from the period of the repressive Trujillo Dictatorship (1930s-1961), and through bachata's humble beginnings in the 1960s to its attainment of international popularity by the early 1990s.

While the subject matter is complex, the book flows easily and is actually difficult to put down. Interviews with musicians, colorful anecdotes and plentiful song lyrics all help to bring to life the humor, candor, and also the pains, of the people who created bachata.

An excellent companion to this book is the classic bachata compilation CD Bachata Roja: Acoustic Bachata From the Cabaret Era - the accompanying booklet features an introduction by Hernandez along with many of the photos she took while researching.

I'm glad to have gotten this book, but the cover photo of Raulin Rodriguez is somewhat misleading. I'm a huge fan of Raulin and I was hoping to read more about his impact on the popularity of the Bachata in the DR. There is still a lot of stigma attached to the Bachata as music suited for bothels and shantytowns and the emergence of Raulin and Antony Santos has done much to make this form of music legit in the public view. The bachata of today is very different than the political songs described in the book. It also seems to me that most of the research took place in the Santo Domingo area rather than on the north coast where the Bachata is far more popular. Just as you wouldn't research country music in NYC, it seems odd to research the Bachata in the DR's largest city. A full follow-up book on the Bachata of today would be great that includes the Americanization of the form by such groups as Aventura and the current complexity of the music's guitar form.

Un curioso estudio, un libro de bachata. La primera vez que lo vi no me anime a leerlo. Pensé como todo mal dominicano con el complejo de gazcue que un libro sobre una música que no me gusta no merecía que le dedicara tiempo. Tuvo que pasar un año y un despertar de mi entendimiento para saber que no importa que la música no me guste o que sea de clase baja o que sea vulgar y yo solo escuche música clásica o rock; lo importante es que es nuestra música, nuestra identidad nos guste o no. El libro como una disección cuidadosamente hecha por una antropóloga trata el tema no con la frialdad de un descubrimiento arqueológico sino con la calidez de un tema humano, bueno con toda la calidez que puede hacerlo una norteamericana. Ella trata el tema de la bachata desde la historia de la etimología de la palabra. No sabia y ahora sé que la palabra bachata significa jolgorio, reunión en que las personas tocan música con guitarras. Las influencias de la bachata según la autora provienen de cuba.

El método de investigación de la autora consistió en residir en Republica Dominicana por un tiempo, mientras entrevistaba a los bachateros de radio guarachita, a artistas famosos, a historiadores y sociólogos. El libro escrito en ingles, también posee unas cuantas letras de bachatas famosas con su respectiva traducción, una galería de fotos de bachateros y merengueros y muestra el avance de la música y su aceptación final al llegar bachata rosa de Juan Luis Guerra al escenario y darle un impulso internacional a la bachata. La autora después de este acontecimiento tuvo que cambiar su foco narrativo, porque esta música lentamente se empieza a aceptar en la radio y ha dejado de ser marginada. Me agrada mucho ver que de todas estas cosas salen estudios, libros, análisis y que mi país esta bien representado. Ojala que autores dominicanos se enfrenten a la labor de exaltar lo nuestro y dejemos nuestro complejo gazcuense, nuestra exaltación de lo extranjero sobre lo nacional y nos pongamos a escribir sobre mas cosas de nuestro país.

Luis Méndez.

Deborah Pacini Hernandez offers an excellently researched, intelligently written, and amazingly detailed history of the Dominican Republic's Bachata music. Be forewarned ... this is not an easy book to read; this is not a glib magazine article with a superficial history of Bachata. On the contrary, Ms. Hernandez analyzes the growth of Bachata from a socio-economic / political and cultural point of view and her discussions and overall presentation often read like a doctoral dissertation.

Despite the book's academic tone, it is a wonderfully rich, engrossing study of Bachata and I highly recommend it. The book covers the birth of Bachata (circa the early 1960's) and traces its growth up until the early 1990's. I would like Ms. Hernandez to write another book that covers the explosive growth and popularity of Bachata from the mid 1990's up to the present. Ms. Hernandez is to be commended on her extraordinary research and intelligent presentation. I rate this book: A+.

This is a great book, one that challenges white male assumptions about class and its relation to music. A valuable book for anyone interested in combatting stereotypes, and patriarchal and racist interpretations of 'popular' music. I was reading a somewhat pompous academic's book about hiphop musical culture by someone named Russell Potter, and it almost made me swear off academic books about music. But Deborah Pacini Hernandez is unusual in that she understands, appreciates, and identifies with the best of Dominican popular music. What a great book!

A Band of Angels is a moving story by Deborah Hopkinson based on real events and people from history. The book is appropriate for readers in third through fifth grade, and would particularly be appropriate for those studying American history in the late 1800s. The experiences and emotions that Ella faces in the book provide a good depiction of the feelings and events people encountered during that time period in a subtle way. The watercolor and colored pencil illustrations are presented in soft and appropriate colors that are well-suited to the text. The pictures are unique examples of the illustrator, Raul Colon's work, and add to the mood and setting of the story. Overall, A Band of Angels is a touching story that children can enjoy.

The storyteller, Aunt Beth, relates to her niece the story of her great-great grandmother Ella Sheppard. This is the story of the determination of a girl to save her school by forming a chorus and taking them on tour to raise money. While the story is fiction, Hopkinson reveals in a note at the end of the text that is was inspired by factual events. Raul Colon's earth-toned art gives this book a historical flair. The glowing illustrations are suggestive of old photographs. The child narrator gives the book the personal effect to entice the reader to be indulged. This story illustrates the power of hard work and determination.

If you have read Andrew Ward's new book about the Jubilee Singers, Dark Midnight When I Rise, you will also be interested in this award-winning book that introduces children to their inspiring history.

When I heard about this book on NPR I wished there were more places to hear about children's books like this one. It seems as though bookstores often carry only light and fluffy or series books. I love to share historical fiction with my children and love books like A BAND OF ANGELS.

A Band of Angels tells the story of Grandma Ella, a character who is inspired by Ella Sheppard Moore who was a pianist for the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University. We learn that Grandma Ella was born into slavery and freed at fourteen when the civil war ended. The story details how young Ella worked tirelessly to save money to attend a new school for freed slaves known as Fisk School. After saving her money and arriving at Fisk, Ella continues working so that she can stay in school and also joins the school chorus. In spite of her personal efforts, she still faced the very real possibility of having to leave school because the school itself was experiencing great financial hardship. While school officials had pretty much given up hope of keeping the school open, the school chorus and Professor White, the choir director, believe that they can help save the school by doing concerts throughout the North. The story then chronicles the experiences of the choir which range from jubilant moments to performing in virtually empty concert halls.

A Band of Angels is a book that provides a colorful way to share a proud part of African American heritage with your children. Colon's illustrations add greater depth to the story and will help children better visualize the events that take place. While this is a work of fiction, the story is based on real people who selflessly used their talents to keep Fisk's doors open. The book also provides a good introduction to Negro Spirituals, which were kept alive through the voices of the Jubilee Singers. In addition, readers will see how this brave group of singers would not let racism quiet their talented voices. Above all, the story will help inspire children to hold fast to their dreams in spite of the hurdles or difficulties they may encounter along the way.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

The reason I could call my review Tight boy and his violin because He was the bomb. I meen like he was the bat boy and he had it good because if you wer at my school C.L.A.S you couldent be no bat boy or a water boy . My school cause it self C.L.A.S because it stands for CULTURE AND LANGUGE ACADEMY OF SUCESES se THE C IS CULTURE AND THE L IS LANGUAGE AND THE A IS ACADEMY AND S IS FOR SUCCES. But yeah some of the other books chek me out like darnell rock reporting or this one oh yeah thats it.

Reginald's father is the manager of a baseball team in the Negro league. Reginald would rather play his violin than anything else. His dad signs him up to be a bat boy. Reginald plays his violin for the team which starts them on a winning streak. Shows insight into world of music impact and Negro ball players.

Reginald's father is the manager of a baseball team in the Negro league. Reginald would rather play his violin than a else. His dad signs him up to be a bat boy. Reginals plays his violin for the team which starts them on a winning streak. Shows insight into world of music impact and Negro ball players.

My son and I absolutely loved the story and illustrations. We can't wait for Gavin Curtis to write his next book, and for E.B. Lewis to illustrate his next book. Continue to keep up the high standards for children's books. We love to read! Reading is one of my most favorite things to share with my son who will be 5 in July. Thank you again to the both of you for a book well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book has so many themes superimposed on one another, but they are all presented within the context of a wonderful story about a boy who just wanted to play his violin.

Set among the context of the Negro League era, Reginald's father decides one summer to make him bat boy for his team. The team is down on its luck, and Reginald's heart isn't in this assignment, but everything comes together for him and the team one day.

The history of the era as gently portrayed in the travels of the players is presented for young readers. The story of being true to yourself, and of parents learning to accept that in their children, is here as well. Above all else, the story of Reginald and his journeys with the ball players is a story of hope and triumph among the community in a time that was not always seen as one of hope. Along with all of this, the illustrations of E. B. Lewis capture these themes beautifully.

What more can you ask for - the best of Victor Wooten transcribed by the man himself. Top book.

I own this book and am very satisfied with it.it has all of the greats live amzing grace classical thump and stomping grounds.its great if you want to learn just the songs but it doesn't teach you more than that.no techniques or anything wich would be really nice to have from a bass god like Vic.

For a really long time I had been wondering how Vic played that one little arpeggio at the beginning of Sinister Minister, how he pulled off two bass melodies at once, and just how he was doing that thumb stuff. Everything in here is transcribed note for note by Vic himself. After I bought this book, not only did I learn how he did it, but I integrated some of his techinques into my own musical vocabulary. The combination of the rhythms shown in the staff and the precision of the tablature makes it much easier to learn the techniques of the world's greatest living bassist.

This is definately the most amazing book that i've ever bought! The techniques used in each song will tremendously improve my skill and help me be a better player.I am however dissapointed ,because in the lessons section on the victor wooten website,he advertised ME AND MY BASS GUITAR as one of the songs to be included in the book of transcriptions.This happens to be my favourite song from victor wooten,and i hope i could get it later on.In spite of that i still rate the book with 5 stars.Get it now!!!!!

Let's be real here, folks; you won't learn a lotta these songs any other way than to buy this book. And they're not even transcribed by someone else, Victor himself wrote out the pieces so you know they're accurate. I transcribed "Norwegian Wood" by watching his hands on the Bass Day video and warped the tape because I rewound & paused it so much. If only this had been available then, I wouldn't have had to spend another $25 on the DVD....

Seriously though, if you're an avid Wooten fan you'll be pleased, several of his more difficult songs are in here. I think "The Sinister Minister" solo has been long awaited, as well as "U Can't Hold No Groove" and "Amazing Grace". I tried to knock out "The Vision" for a while but now I don't have to! You won't learn anything revolutionary about his technique, but if you follow Vic closely you know the tricks already. You're limited by the fact that he plays so fast you can't figure out the notes. No longer!

I definitely think that "Me And My Bass Guitar" should have been in here, but I've got enuff songs to learn for now without tackling that one.

What a mouth-watering collection of guitars this book has! Photography is top-notch, and the narrative is crisp and well written. I should say a must-have for guitar fans of all genres and tastes. Highly recommended...SSZ

Not as detailed as I would have liked; however, as a guide to the ideas behind the Blue Guitar effort, it exceeded my expectations. Would have been nice if the excellent graphics and photography were supported with coffee table book sizing.

Blue Guitar is a sweet tribute to Jimmy D'Aquisto as a guitar maker and to Scott Chinery as a collector of fine instruments. The impeccable workmanship of the instruments in this book is a small oasis of patience and craftsmanship in a fast-food culture. It provides an insight into the type of people that create these wonderful pieces, as well as the zeal of one person whose passion was acquiring the best of examples of this art form. You don't have to be a guitar junkie to enjoy this book. It's fun to read and real easy to look at.

The book is an execellent reference to anyone interested in the making of guitars, and to know who presently, are among the "elite of luthiers".

Scott Chinnery, an avid collector of guitars, was instrumental in re-igniting a passion for the revival of the arch top, semi-acoustic guitar. It was Chinnery, that approached twenty two of the finest luthiers, and inspired them to the task of creating an eighteen inche (wide) semi-acoustic guitar. Chinnery also requested the guitars be made "blue" - all luthiers used the same color, yet were free to formulate and apply the color as they indivudally desired. The results and finding of this work becomes the topic of the book.

The text presents a challenge to continue the work initiated by these craftpersons. It is "inspirational", and very informative.

What does the ultimate blue archtop guitar look like? 22 master craftsmen were posed with this challenge: "make an 18 inch wide acoustic archtop guitar...make it any way you want, as long as you make it blue."

A virtual competition ensues as the top 'luthiers' get down to business creating their personal vision of the finest blue archtop. Scott Chinery, a collector of fine guitars had amassed a collection numbering over a thousand pieces when he had the notion to commission the best craftsman to make a blue archtop. You don't even have to love guitars to appreciate the wonderfully varied interpretations that came about as a result. The pride of craftsmanship shines through on each and every meticulously crafted piece. This is a handsome book richly filled with photographs of these masterpieces in blue, and the talented men and women behind them. This book is a gem for the price.