Biography: arts and entertainment Books

Book SynopsisAn Unsung Cat explores the life and music of jazz saxophonist, Warne Marsh. Safford Chamberlain follows the artist from his start in youth bands like the Hollywood Canteen Kids and The Teen-Agers through his studies under Lennie Tristano, his brilliant playing of the 1950s, his disappearance from public view in the 1960s, his re-emergence in the 1970s, and his belated recognition in the 1980s as one of the finest tenor players of the post-World War II era. Through interviews with the Marsh family and friends, Chamberlain offers an inside view of Marsh''s private life, including his struggles with drug abuse. Detailed analysis of outstanding performances complements the personal story, while an extensively researched discography and photographs reveal the public and private face of this unique performer. In addition to the book, Scarecrow is pleased to offer a companion compact disc, released by Storyville Records. The tracks on the CD provide a representative sampling of Marsh''s best work, while providing a historical overview of his development, from the beginning track, Apple Honey, which is a private, low-fidelity tape from an NBC radio broadcast in 1945 of the Hoagy Carmichael Show, to the final track, Sweet and Lovely, captured months before his death in 1987.Trade ReviewUnsung Cat is not only a many-faceted, novelistic biography by a noted jazz journalist and one of Marsh's former sax students, but a heartbreaking mystery that tortures readers with questions as deeply as it satisfies with narrative richness. Who was this jazz cipher, and how did so many of us miss his musical genius?...The publisher has put together a companion CD released by Storyville Records and a book and Cd set for $68.50. That should serve as a good introduction to Marsh's work. * Jazzsteps *..highly-detailed biography...an interesting story... * Rapport *...painstakingly researched and gracefully written...A fine volume... * CHOICE *...with Chamberlain's discerning comments on the music, the interested reader will easily be able to follow Marsh's musical development...the discography is invaluable for a player like Marsh... * The IAJRC Journal *...remarkable job of cutting through the myth of Warne Marsh and taking a serious, analytical look at his life and his music...Chamberlain's book is one of the finest examples of jazz biography, and worthy of Marsh's legacy in every way. * All Music Guide To Jazz *Safford Chamberlain...has just given a big boost to Marsh's stock. An Unsung Cat: The Life and Music of Warne Marsh ... is a thorough and objective study of a man Chamberlain calls 'a flawed genius.' Chamberlain's book is important in many respects. Aside from its value as a biography, he provides an informative discography of Marsh's recorded work. An accompanying section of transcribed Marsh solos will prove invaluable to musicians. In addition, Chamberlain has compiled a companion CD of important Marsh recordings. * Pasadena Weekly *Warne Marsh left a legacy of fine recordings which are thoroughly analyzed by Chamberlain in his compelling and insightful journey into one jazz musician's existence. Safford Chamberlain has compiled a brilliant biography of a very complicated man...This is savvy writing from a man who is in tune with jazz by virtue of being a musician, scholar and a relentless searcher for truth and accuracy. This is the best and most legitimate bio that I have read in years.... * Jazzreview.com *Chamberlain studies jazz saxophone for awhile with Marsh (1927-87), but eventually gave it up in favor of his day job teaching literature and writing about jazz. Still the experience inspired him to produce a biography of his teacher. Aside from some exuberant fans, he says, Marsh was considered a very good second-level tenor saxophonist during his career, but attributes his lack of recognition primarily to an outsider temperament that led him to mismanage his own affairs and contribute to his own obscurity. * Reference and Research Book News *...a detailed picture of this fascinating musician. * European Free Improvisation Bibliography *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsBringing in the Sheaves Half Genius, Half Irish Himself The Noble Outlaw Men and Women at War Ireland Rebels What Really Happened The Last Place on Earth Addendum Filmography Bibliography Acknowledgments

Read more less

Book SynopsisOffers a comprehensive look at the first one hundred years of photography through the lives of those who captured this unique rural region of New York State. Svenson’s fascinating biographical dictionary is enriched with over seventy illustrations.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first full-length biography of the poet whose remarkable odyssey took her from being a child enslaved in Africa to becoming an international celebrity by the time she was in her early twenties, only to fall into relative obscurity when she died in 1784 at barely the age of thirty.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBiography of the legendary pianist/composer. Based on scores of interviews with family and friends, the book gives rare insights into the elusive personality of this legendary hero of jazz.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTravel diaries reveal musical inspiration, personal encounters, notes on performances.This volume brings together all the travel diaries of Sir Peter Pears (1910-1986), principal interpreter of Britten's works. Pears accompanied Britten on many of his trips and the record of their tour of the Far East in 1955 is ofspecial interest. Here the sound of the gamelan orchestras enchanted Britten and deeply influenced his musical development.Trade ReviewA valuable source of material on the musical development of both Pears and Benjamin Britten...a 'must' for those interested in either. * OPERA JOURNAL [US] *Table of ContentsAmerican tour with the New English Singers (1936); world trip (1955-56); Ansbach Bach Festival (1959); India (1965); Armenian holiday - a diary (August 1965); Moscow Christmas - a diary (December 1966); Nevis fortnight (1967); Moscow diary (1971); Saint Enoch (1972); San Fortunato (1972); the New York "Death in Venice" (1974); the New York "Billy Budd" (1978); appendix - German text of chapter 3.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisJOHN CAGE WRITER

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF POPS: FOSTER NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MAN

Read more less

Book SynopsisÊDark MagusÊ is a warts-and-all look at the real Miles Davis. As told by his son this book strips away the public perception of Davis and gets down to the realities of his personality his relationships and his many quirks. ÊDark MagusÊ details this enigmatic superstar''s Jekyll and Hyde behavior: his swings between sobriety and prodigious drug use; his tender family moments and his destructive selfishness; his search for marital stability and his obsession with young women; his exalted musical talent and his ever-present personal demons. The author also delves into Davis'' relationships with artists such as Charlie Parker Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane as well as his role as a mentor to young musicians his obsession with sports the ups and downs of his career and the family''s turmoil over his final will.Þ This book is a brilliant and engaging revelation of Miles'' character through the recollections of his oldest son. It''s a book about a legendary musician who was one of m

Read more less

Book SynopsisKEYBOARD PRESENTS THE BEST OF THE 80S

Read more less

Book SynopsisGUITAR WORLD PRESENTS: METALLICA

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first study of the life and music of the composer George Butterworth [1885-1916], including some of his own writings on music.The career of the composer George Butterworth was cruelly cut short by a sniper's bullet at the Somme. His name is kept alive by the popularity of his orchestral tone-poems, such as The Banks of Green Willow and A Shropshire Lad, and his songs. In this book, the first full-length study of Butterworth, Michael Barlow traces his brief life: from preparatory school through Eton and Oxford, a teaching post at Radley, study at the Royal College ofMusic, a period as a music critic for The Times - and his enlisting in August 1914 which, two years later, led to his heroic death at the Somme. All of Butterworth's surviving compositions are discussed, and important chapters examine his Housman settings and his friendship with Vaughan Williams. Butterworth was also prominent in the folksong revival, and chronicled here for the first time are his extensive activities as a folksong and dance collector. The book also includes some of Butterworth's own writings on music.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPRIEST OF MUSIC THE LIFE OF DIMITRI MITROPOULOS

Read more less