Biography: arts and entertainment Books
HarperCollins Publishers Inc ACDC Maximum Rock Roll
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£17.09
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Gilded Lily
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£16.19
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Roasting in Hells Kitchen
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£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Furious Love
£12.34
HarperCollins Fall to Pieces
Book SynopsisOn the surface Mary Forsberg Weiland had a fairy-tale life. She was a highly paid fashion model. This is a memoir of Weiland that offers a window into the world of modeling and rock 'n' roll celebrity while providing deep insights into a serious and misunderstood psychological disorder.Trade Review"A harrowing story of addiction and mental illness." -- People "A worthy addition to the rock canon." -- New York Post "Weiland's lively, vernacular memoir tells the sadly wasted but ultimately self-directed tale of her meteoric rise as a model from impoverished, half-Mexican roots to a precipitous plunge into drug addiction...Weiland's forthright, resilient can-do spirit injects this sad story with a healthy moral." -- Publishers Weekly "A brutally honest and compelling account of Mary Weiland's struggles with addiction and mental illness. Brave, bold and unfiltered, Mary's writing injects humor and levity in a way that is both entertaining and necessary. I have no doubt that this important book will help save many lives." -- Dave Navarro "Mary Weiland's beautifully crafted memoir takes the reader through the journey that is so very common today, the slow drift into addiction and mental illness. Honest, clear, and accurate, Fall to Pieces is perhaps the most vivid rendition of this experience I have ever come across." -- Dr. Drew Pinsky, host of Loveline and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, author of The Mirror Effect and Cracked "Mary Weiland describes the depths of madness and addiction with surprising clarity. Fall to Pieces is a wild, gripping story, told with intense emotional honesty." -- Terri Cheney, New York Times bestselling author of Manic "For all the death and devastation detailed in its pages, this book is surprisingly funny." -- Reuters
£14.30
HarperCollins Strange Things Happen
£13.60
HarperCollins Publishers Inc I Tina
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£14.44
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Blues All Around Me
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£17.09
HarperCollins Luck or Something Like It Large Print
£20.69
HarperCollins Anyone Who Had A Heart
£19.79
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Fortunes Children
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£17.99
HarperCollins Jason Priestley
£13.60
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Sing to Me
£16.71
HarperCollins Dirty Daddy
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Hilarious and at times heartbreaking ..." -- Vanity Fair "Equal parts smut and sincerity ..." -- Larry King Now "Both funnier and darker than you might expect ..." -- AskMen.com
£12.19
HarperCollins Publishers The Fat Lady Sang
Book SynopsisTold in the same irresistible style as The Kid Stays in the Picture, this book chronicles author's triumphant recovery from a devastating series of strokes, with the aid of neurologists, physical therapists and old friends like Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, Sumner Redstone, and Beverly D'Angelo.Trade ReviewPraise for The Kid Stays in the Picture: "The best Hollywood memoir I've ever read!" -- Michael Fleming, Variety "Don't even try to put it down." -- Janet Maslin, New York Times "A naughty, outrageous, and wild ride--and perhaps the best Hollywood memoir ever written." -- Publishers Weekly Top Three Greatest Hollywood Tell-Alls -- Entertainment Weekly "A sequel better than any [readers] could have anticipated... It's a remarkable story of endurance, faith and determination, even readers who've never heard of Evans will find this to be both entertaining and inspiring. A harrowing but lively supplement to The Kid Stays in the Picture." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "The notorious kid is still in the picture... Evans has produced a quintessential Hollywood memoir." -- Kirkus Reviews "A compelling and, at times, deeply emotional memoir." -- Booklist
£12.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Nelson's unmistakable voice shines through ... funny, inspirational and bawdy, with a well-honed sense of humor." -- Kirkus Reviews "An irreverent, entertaining read. Humble, optimistic, and quick to give credit to those around him for contributing to his success, Nelson is a charming narrator." -- Publishers Weekly "Nelson takes us for a rollicking ride along the highways and byways of his long life and career in this rambunctious, hilarious, reflective, and loving memoir." -- American Songwriter "Compelling page-turner ... for all his fame and accessibility, he still has so much wisdom left to share." -- Jambands.com "So many decades into his fabled life and career, Willie fans pretty much know what to expect from him. And he does not let his readers down with his Musings From the Road. " -- Country Music Television, Nashville Skyline blog
£12.87
HarperCollins The Grand Tour
£19.94
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Sinatras Century One Hundred Notes on the Man and
Book Synopsis
£21.24
HarperCollins Taking the Lead
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£13.09
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Just Getting Started
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Fans of heralded crooner Bennett will revel in this inviting charming book...In these beguiling portraits, Bennett warmly remembers of the deep influences on his life." -- Publishers Weekly "[Just Getting Started] is as breezy and meaningful as one of his trademark songs as readers learn about the man by the company he kept and the heroes he worships. Bennett's ethereal still lifes and landscape paintings adorn this simple yet profound and gracious homage." -- Booklist "In Just Getting Started...the singer takes a look back on his long, successful career and rich life...What comes through in all 42 chapters is the singer's gratitude...Let's hope this new generation can learn a lesson from Mr. Bennett's unflagging class and graciousness. -- Wall Street Journal
£999.99
Dey Street Books Why Bob Dylan Matters Revised Edition
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£16.65
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Other Side of the Coin The Queen the Dresser
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£31.50
HarperCollins How I Saved the World
Book SynopsisTrade Review“Where is Dana Perino? She is desperately needed.” — Jesse's mom “Jesse Watters is officially out of control.” — Washington Post “Does Watters have the most punchable face in America? The answer is obviously yes.” — Daily Beast “Keep this guy off TV.” — Mayor Bill DeBlasio “A human Jäger bomb.” — Media Matters “A smug, unfunny goon.” — The Daily Show "Blissfully ignorant." — Salon “Probably the smarmiest fuck on the planet.” — Gawker “Jesse Watters is even more stupid than I originally gave him credit for. I mean, surprisingly ignorant. Which I kinda knew, but still.” — Soledad O'Brien “A Fox News reporter with a Stiffler-esque swagger who does not tend to break actual news.” — New Yorker
£19.00
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Hollywood The Oral History
Book SynopsisThe real story of Hollywood as told by such luminaries as Steven Spielberg, Frank Capra, Katharine Hepburn, Meryl Streep, Harold Lloyd, and nearly four hundred others, assembled from the American Film Institute?s treasure trove of interviews, reveals a fresh history of the American movie industry from its beginnings to today.From the archives of the American Film Institute comes a unique picture of what it was like to work in Hollywood from its beginnings to its present day. Gleaned from nearly three thousand interviews, involving four hundred voices from the industry, Hollywood: The Oral History, lets a reader ?listen in? on candid remarks from the biggest names in front of the camera?Bette Davis, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Harold Lloyd?to the biggest behind it?Frank Capra, Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, Jordan Peele, as well as the lesser known individuals that shaped what was heard and seen on screen: musicians, costumers, art directors, cinematographers, writers, sound men, editors, make-up artists, and even script timers, messengers, and publicists. The result is like a conversation among the gods and goddesses of film: lively, funny, insightful, historically accurate and, for the first time, authentically honest in its portrait of Hollywood. It?s the insider?s story.Legendary film scholar Jeanine Basinger and New York Times bestselling author Sam Wasson, both acclaimed storytellers in their own right, have undertaken the monumental task of digesting these tens of thousands of hours of talk and weaving it into a definitive portrait of workaday Hollywood.
£21.24
HarperCollins Publishers Inc God Bless This Mess
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£999.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Fifth Avenue 5 A.M.
Book SynopsisTrade Review“A bonbon of a book . . . as well tailored as the little black dress the movie made famous.” — Janet Maslin, New York Times “Anyone even slightly interested in Capote/Hepburn/Breakfast at Tiffany’s will delight in [Wasson’s] account.” — USA Today “So smart and entertaining it should come with its own popcorn.” — People “This splendid new book is more than a mere ‘making-of’ chronicle. Wasson has pulled it off with verve, intelligence, and a consistent ring of truth...compulsively readable. Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. is both enjoyable and informative: everything a film book ought to be.” — Leonard Maltin, author of Leonard Maltin's 151 Best Movies You've Never Seen “A fascination with fascination is one way of describing Wasson’s interest in a film that not only captures the sedate elegance of a New York long gone, but that continues to entrance as a love story, a style manifesto, and a way to live.” — New York magazine “Crammed with irresistible tidbits…[Wasson’s] book winds up as well-tailored as the kind of little black dress that Breakfast at Tiffany’s made famous.” — New York Times “Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. offers lots of savory tidbits [from the making of Breakfast at Tiffany’s]. Mr. Wasson brings a lively and impudent approach to his subject.” — Wall Street Journal “Sam Wasson is a fabulous social historian. . . . [Fifth Avenue, 5 AM] is as melancholy and glittering as Capote’s story of Holly Golightly.” — The New Yorker “A brilliant chronicle of the creation of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Wasson has woven the whole so deftly that it reads like a compulsively page-turning novel. This is a memorable achievement.” — Peter Bogdanovich “Wasson’s story is part encyclopedia, part valentine, and worth reading just to find out what exactly went into making the amazing party scene.” — The Huffington Post “Wasson offers enough drama to occupy anyone for days...The whole thing reads like a cool sip of water.” — Daily News “Reads like carefully crafted fiction…[Wasson] carries the reader from pre-production to on-set feuds and conflicts, while also noting Hepburn’s impact on fashion (Givenchy’s little black dress), Hollywood glamour, sexual politics, and the new morality. Capote would have been entranced.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A breezy tale of dresses and breakfast pastries, this is not.... The subtexts of Breakfast at Tiffany’s—materialism, sexual freedom—were decidedly more complicated.” — Women's Wear Daily “Rich in incident and set among the glitterati of America’s most glamorous era, the book reads like a novel…[Wasson] has assembled a sparkling time capsule of old Hollywood magic and mythmaking.” — Kirkus Reviews “The anecdotes are numerous and deftly told. This well-researched, entertaining page-turner should appeal to a broad audience, particularly those who enjoy film history that focuses on the human factors involved in the creative process while also drawing on larger social and cultural contexts.” — Library Journal “Reading a book about a movie is seldom as entertaining as watching the film, but Wasson’s is the rare exception.” — Christian Science Monitor “[We] couldn’t put down Sam Wasson’s new book, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M..... Along with juicy film gossip, the book offers behind-the-scenes insight on how Hepburn and designer Hubert de Givenchy created Holly Golightly’s iconic style.” — AOL Stylelist “Sam Wasson’s exquisite portrait of Audrey Hepburn peels backs her sweet facade to reveal a much more complicated and interesting woman. He also captures a fascinating turning point in American history— when women started to loosen their pearls, and their inhibitions. I devoured this book.” — Karen Abbott, author of Sin in the Second City “Audrey Hepburn dances through the pages of Sammy Wasson’s portrait of a movie and a little black dress that were game changers at the dawn of the sixties. Both juicy and informative, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. provides the inside story while giving Hepburn her due as a true modern original.” — Molly Haskell, author of Frankly, My Dear: Gone with the Wind Revisited
£16.70
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Power of Conflict
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£12.99
HarperCollins Where Are Your Boys Tonight
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£13.78
HarperCollins And Then We Rise
£14.44
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Into the Void
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£22.49
HarperCollins Notorious
£24.38
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Unti9780063445192
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£21.25
Penguin Random House Australia Garcia An American Life
Book SynopsisHe was there when Dylan went electric, when a generation danced naked at Woodstock, and when Ken Kesey started experimenting with acid. Jerry Garcia was one of the most gifted musicians of all time, and he was a member of one of the most worshiped rock ''n'' roll bands in history. Now, Blair Jackson, who covered the Grateful Dead for twenty-five years, gives us an unparalleled portrait of Garcia--the musical genius, the brilliant songwriter, and ultimately, the tortured soul plagued by his own addiction. With more than forty photographs, many of them previously unpublished, Garcia: An American Life is the ultimate tribute to the man who, Bob Dylan said, had no equal.
£20.90
Oxford University Press Verdi
Book SynopsisIn this third edition of the classic Verdi, renowned authority Julian Budden offers a comprehensive overview of Verdi the man and the artist, tracing his ascent from humble beginnings to the status of a cultural patriarch of the new Italy.Table of ContentsIllustrations ; Key to Sigla ; PART I THE LIFE ; 1. Early Life at Busseto ; 2. Success and Failure in Milan ; 3. The Journeyman ; 4. Florence, London and Paris ; 5. Return to Busseto ; 6. Viva V.E.R.D.I. ; 7. The New Order ; 8. The Dark Decade ; 9. Indian Summer ; 10. The Last Years ; 11. Verdi as Man and Artist ; PART II THE MUSIC ; 12. The Background ; 13. From Oberto to Ernani ; Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio, Un giorno di regno, Nabucco, I Lombardi alla prima crociata, Ernani ; 14. The Prison Years ; I due Foscari, Giovanna d'Arco, Alzira, Attila, Macbeth, I masnadieri, Jerusalem, Il corsaro, La battaglia di Legnano, Luisa Miller ; 15. The High Noon ; Stiffelio, Rigoletto, Il trovatore, La traviata ; 16. Towards Grand Opera ; Les vepres siciliennes, Simon Boccanegra, Aroldo, Un ballo in maschera, La forza del destino, Don Carlos, Aida ; 17. The Final Masterpieces ; Otello, Falstaff ; 18. Miscellaneous Operatic Compositions ; 19. Chamber Compositions ; 20. Choral and Religious Works ; Appendices ; A. Calendar ; B. List of Works ; C. Personalia ; D. Select Bibliography ; E. Glossary of Nineteenth-Century Operatic Terms ; Index
£32.29
Oxford University Press, USA Louis Armstrong An American Genius
Book SynopsisLouis Armstrong was more than a great entertainer-he was one of the most important musicians of our times, not only a key figure in the history of jazz but also a formative influence on all of twentieth-century popular music. James Lincoln Collier, author of The Making of Jazz chronicles the saga of Armstrong's rise as a musician, providing a unique, insightful portrait of the man and his times.Trade Review"Destined to become one of the enduring jazz reference works."--The Philadelphia Inquirer"The definitive account of Armstrong's life. Collier is a tough, unblinkered critic."--The Washington Post"By far the most thoughtful and articulate study to date of a much misunderstood titan of jazz."--The Nation"A masterful critical biography--sophisticated in its contexts, shrewd yet sympathetic, rich in its supporting cast...and splendidly conscientious in the delicate balance between character and culture."--Kirkus Reviews"The most comprehensive account yet of the man who all but invented swing."--Newsweek"One of the most important jazz studies in recent years."--Callaloo"An excellent introduction to the real 'Satchmo.'"--History Book Review"It could be a long time before we are given a more detailed, comprehensive, perceptive, and human portrait of the great Satchmo."--Jervis Anderson, The New Republic"Only with the publication of James Lincoln Collier's biography is a truly comprehensive critical study of Armstrong available. And a splendid one it is....Distinguished by sound logic, a generous breadth of understanding of music and people, and a writing style that is a model of clarity, economy, and grace....Collier's book joins that select group of biographies of Americans in the arts whose representatives are in themselves admirable works of art."--American Music"Splendid....Distinguished by sound logic, a generous breadth of understanding of music and people, and a writing style that is a model of clarity, economy, and grace....Collier's book joins the select group of biographies of Americans in the arts whose representatives are in themselves admirable works of art."--American Music"A superb book....It is thoughtful, intelligent, informative, provocative, and comprehensive."--Stephen L. Stone, University of Oregon"This comprehensive, well-researched, highly readable biography deftly separates fact from myth in telling the rags-to-riches saga of Armstrong's life."--The Christian Science Monitor"A detailed, provocative, intellectually stimulating, and skillfully written account--in fact, one of the most engrossing biographies of a jazz musician ever written."--Down Beat"Impeccable scholarship, razor-sharp musical analysis, and lively, vibrant prose are the hallmarks of this groundbreaking biography of an American jazz legend."--Booklist
£17.49
Oxford University Press Fanny Brice
Book SynopsisFanny Brice was arguably the greatest American stage comedienne and the first truly great torch singer. Best known today through the Broadway and Hollywood versions of Funny Girl, the vehicle that catapulted Barbara Streisand to super-stardom, her most famous role was as `Baby Snooks'' the `incorrigible tot of network radio from 1936 to 1951''.This meticulously researched biography chronicles her entire stage career from childhood amateur shows to national fame. Full of colourful anecdote, it covers her personal life, including three broken marriages - one two a notorious gangster - and also includes four appendices detailing every aspect of her stage, film, radio, and recording careers.Trade Review'Fascinating account of the Funny Girl's career.' Peter Hepple, Stage & Television Today
£21.49
Oxford University Press Inc The Uncrowned King of Swing
Book SynopsisIf Benny Goodman was the King of Swing, then Fletcher Henderson was the power behind the throne. Not only did Henderson arrange the music that powered Goodman''s meteoric rise, he also helped launch the careers of Louis Armstrong and Coleman Hawkins, among others. Now Jeffrey Magee offers a fascinating account of this pivotal bandleader, throwing new light on the emergence of modern jazz and the world that created it. Drawing on an unprecedented combination of sources, including sound recordings, obscure stock arrangements, and hundreds of scores that have been available only since Goodman''s death, Magee illuminates Henderson''s musical output, from his early work as a New York bandleader, to his pivotal role in building the Kingdom of Swing. He shows how Henderson, standing at the forefront of the New York jazz scene during the 1920s and ''30s, assembled the era''s best musicians, simultaneously preserving jazz''s distinctiveness and performing popular dance music that reached a widTrade Review"Magee does an excellent job of placing his subject in the context of uncertain social changes in the African American community. Well researched and highly readable."--Library Journal "An invaluable survey of Henderson's life and music. Detailed analyses of numerous musical scores are juxtaposed against a view of the roller-coaster progress of Henderson's career in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance. Perhaps most important, Magee deals with the complex issue of Henderson's identity as both a creative facilitator of other musicians' efforts and the frustrated composer-arranger of music that was a foundational element in the Swing Era--bringing triumphs that had eluded his groups to leaders such as Goodman, the Dorsey Brothers and Isham Jones."--Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times "Magee paints a vivid portrait of the central figures of early jazz and swing (Louis Armstrong is a 'strong streak of color in a crazy quilt') as well as the business of recording and touring in the 1920s and '30s. While Benny Goodman is lauded as the major force behind the Big Band sound, Magee argues convincingly that Henderson was equally important in 'building the kingdom of swing.''--Publishers Weekly "An invaluable survey of Henderson's life and music. Detailed analyses of numerous musical scores are juxtaposed against a view of the roller-coaster progress of Henderson's career in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance. Perhaps most important, Magee deals with the complex issue of Henderson's identity as both a creative facilitator of other musicians' efforts and the frustrated composer-arranger of music that was a foundational element in the Swing Era--bringing triumphs that had eluded his groups to leaders such as Goodman, the Dorsey Brothers and Isham Jones."--Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times "Magee does an excellent job of placing his subject in the context of uncertain social changes in the African American community. Well researched and highly readable."--Library Journal "Magee paints a vivid portrait of the central figures of early jazz and swing (Louis Armstrong is a 'strong streak of color in a crazy quilt') as well as the business of recording and touring in the 1920s and '30s. While Benny Goodman is lauded as the major force behind the Big Band sound, Magee argues convincingly that Henderson was equally important in 'building the kingdom of swing.''--Publishers Weekly
£24.22
Oxford University Press Inc Too Marvelous for Words
Book SynopsisArt Tatum defined the limits of the possible in jazz piano. Gunther Schuller called Tatum''s playing a marvel of perfection.... His deep-in-the-keys full piano sonority, the tone and touch control in pyrotechnical passages...are miracles of performance. Whitney Balliett wrote no pianist has ever hit notes more beautifully. Each one--no matter how fast the tempo--was light and complete and resonant, like the letters on a finely printed page. His famous runs have been compared to the arc left against the night sky by a Fourth-of-July sparkler. And to have heard him play, one musician said, was as awe-inspiring as to have seen the Grand Canyon or Halley''s Comet. Now, in Too Marvelous For Words, James Lester provides the first full-length biography of the greatest virtuoso performer in the history of jazz. Before this volume, little was known about Tatum, even among jazz afficionados. What were his origins, who taught him and who provided early pianistic influences, how did he break into Trade Reviewexcitingly depicts the New York City jazz scene during the rise of be-bop and the enormously rich activity of the 1930s and '40s. * Publishers Weekly *
£19.99
Oxford University Press Leader of the Band The Life of Woody Herman
Book SynopsisWoody Herman was a central figure in the development of jazz - a musical giant whose career spanned the big band and bebop eras. Gene Lees has spent close to a decade interviewing Herman's friends and fellow musicians, to produce a vivid portrayal of the triumph and tragedy of a life in jazz.Trade Reviewthe kind of book that makes you want to go and listen to all the records * New York Times Book Review *
£16.49
Oxford University Press Something to Live for The Music of Billy Strayhorn
Book Synopsis'Something to Live For' investigates and analyses the entire oeuvre of Billy Strayhorn, who, for over 30 years, was the musical collaborator of Duke Ellington. Nearly 70 music examples, drawn directly from his original autograph scores, provide insight into the development of Strayhorn's own musical language and style.Trade Review"An epochal work--groundbreaking, fearless, sensitive, and exquisitely modulated, much like the music it illuminates. Something to Live For is the best possible book about Billy Strayhorn's art and a highwater mark of music scholarship."--David Hajdu, author of Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn "The celebration of Billy Strayhorn's life and legacy continues with Walter van de Leur's magnificent new book. Something to Live For immediately takes its place as an absolutely indispensable addition to the history of the Ellington orchestra and American music in general."--Ellingtonia "Richly provocative.... There is a real intellectual hunger in this exploration to identify the unique glory and lasting contribution Strayhorn made to the art of jazz.... Jazz musician and historian Van de Leur subjects Billy Strayhorn's musical arrangements to deep scrutiny and credibly finds them original, undervalued, frequently misattributed, and tasting of the sublime."--Kirkus Review "In this exemplary work, combining meticulous, dedicated research and brilliant analytic illumination, Van de Leur has brought Strayhorn, the musician, and his legacy into full and unobstructed view at last, thus deepening our understanding of Ellingtonia. Indispensable!"--Dan Morgenstern, Director, Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University "For lovers of Ellingtonia, jazz, and twentieth-century music, Walter van de Leur's new book is indeed Something to Live For. The first in-depth study of the music of composer-arranger Billy Strayhorn, this volume is meticulously researched, clearly written, and enriched with excerpts from Strayhorn's autograph scores. For the first time, we can learn the details of Strayhorn's monumental 28-year contribution to the Duke Ellington Orchestra and music he wrote for other contexts. Something to Live For: The Music of Billy Strayhorn sets a new standard of excellence for jazz musicology."--Bill Kirchner, Composer-arranger, saxophonist, jazz historian, producer, educator, and editor of The Oxford Companion to Jazz "Richly provocative.... There is a real intellectual hunger in this exploration to identify the unique glory and lasting contribution Strayhorn made to the art of jazz.... Jazz musician and historian Van de Leur subjects Billy Strayhorn's musical arrangements to deep scrutiny and credibly finds them original, undervalued, frequently misattributed, and tasting of the sublime."--Kirkus Review "The celebration of Billy Strayhorn's life and legacy continues with Walter van de Leur's magnificent new book. Something to Live For immediately takes its place as an absolutely indispensable addition to the history of the Ellington orchestra and American music in general."--Ellingtonia "This scholarly evaluation of Strayhorn's compositions still manages to pay homage to the visionary force behind some of the 20th century's greatest music."--Publishers Weekly "An epochal work--groundbreaking, fearless, sensitive, and exquisitely modulated, much like the music it illuminates. Something to Live For is the best possible book about Billy Strayhorn's art and a highwater mark of music scholarship."--David Hajdu, author of Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn "Van de Leur posits that Strayhorn was not merely Ellington's alter ego but a distinctly different composer who had a direct influence on Ellington's music...this evaluation of Strayhorn's compositions manages to pay homage to the visionary force behind some of the 20th century's greatest music."--Publishers Weekly "In this exemplary work, combining meticulous, dedicated research and brilliant analytic illumination, Van de Leur has brought Strayhorn, the musician, and his legacy into full and unobstructed view at last, thus deepening our understanding of Ellingtonia. Indispensable!"--Dan Morgenstern, Director, Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University "For lovers of Ellingtonia, jazz, and twentieth-century music, Walter van de Leur's new book is indeed Something to Live For. The first in-depth study of the music of composer-arranger Billy Strayhorn, this volume is meticulously researched, clearly written, and enriched with excerpts from Strayhorn's autograph scores. For the first time, we can learn the details of Strayhorn's monumental 28-year contribution to the Duke Ellington Orchestra and music he wrote for other contexts. Something to Live For: The Music of Billy Strayhorn sets a new standard of excellence for jazz musicology."--Bill Kirchner, Composer-arranger, saxophonist, jazz historian, producer, educator, and editor of The Oxford Companion to JazzTable of Contents1. Fantastic Rhythm: The Pittsburgh Years ; 2. The Renaissance of Arranging: First Works for and with Duke Ellington ; 3. The Strayhorn Effect: A New Way of Writing for Jazz Orchestra ; 4. Thinking with the Ear: Strayhorn's Musical Fingerprints ; 5. Writing and Arranging Companions: Credited and Uncredited Collaborations ; 6. "He is He and I am Me": The Ellington-Strayhorn Collaboration ; 7. Wounded Love: Away from the Ellington Organization ; 8. Masterpieces by STrayhorn: Writing for Albums ; 9. The Whodunnit Game: The Mature Style of Billy Strayhorn ; 10. North by Southwest: The Final Years ; 11. Conclusion ; Appendix A: Score of Scores: Manuscripts at the Duke Ellinton and Billy Strayhorn Collections ; Appendix B: Billy Strayhorn's Works on Record ; Appendix C: Billy Strayhorn's Works on Record (posthumously premiered) ; Appendix D: The Compositions of Billy Strayhorn
£24.22
Oxford University Press Amy Beach Passionate Victorian
Book SynopsisAmy Marcy Cheney Beach (1867-1944), the most widely performed composer of her generation, was the first American woman to succeed as a creator of large-scale art music. Her Gaelic Symphony, given its premiere by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1896, was the first work of its kind by an American woman to be performed by an American orchestra. Almost all of her more than 300 works were published soon after they were composed and performed, and today her music is finding new advocates and audiences for its energy, intensity, and sheer beauty. Yet, until now, no full-length critical biography of Beach''s life or comprehensive critical overview of her music existed. This biography admirably fills that gap, fully examining the connections between Beach''s life and work in light of social currents and dominant ideologies. Born into a musical family in Victorian times, Amy Beach started composing as a child of four and was equally gifted as a pianist. Her talent was recognized early by BostoTrade ReviewAward-winning study... her music... is enjoying a revival of interest that is richly deserved and long overdue. Block's book is a thorough, academic study of Beach's life and work. She handles the musical elements with both sharp analytic skills and considerable sensitivity. It is a satisfying and illuminating read and hopefully will encourage more musicians to delve into the music itself - which, by the way, is strong, beautiful and filled with Beach's individual musical voice. * Jessica Duchen, Classical Music 17/06/2000. *Block's patient reconstruction of the complex mediations that shaped Beach's career is a refreshing change from the one dimensional revisionism of some recent biographies ... painstaking reconstruction of a career suspended awkwardly between genius and conventional restraint. * Brian Morton, Times Higher Education Supplement *Table of Contents1: A Prodigy's New England Upbringing 2: The Cheneys and the Marcys 3: A Prodigy Despite Her Mother 4: The Making of a Composer: I 5: Two Ways of Looking at a Marriage 6: The Making of a Composer: II 7: Becoming Mistress of Her Craft 8: Reaching Out to the World 9: "One of the Boys" 10: Amy Beach's Boston 11: The Composer at the Keyboard: Beach Plays Beach 12: "A Veritable Autobiography"?: The Piano Concerto 13: The Composer's Workshop 14: Choral Music 15: The Chambered Nautilus 16: Europe and a New Life 17: "Lion of the Hour" 18: My Old New Hampshire House 19: At the MacDowell Colony: "Solitude in Silence" 20: Caring 21: A Fascinating New York Life 22: Beach the Modernist? 23: Reckonings 24: Harvest Time Postlude: The Legacy Appendix: Catalog of Works Music's Ten Commandments as Given for Young Composers
£69.35
Oxford University Press Inc Trumpet Blues The Life of Harry James
Book SynopsisSwing is back in style, and with it a renewed interest in the Big Band Era. And few players dominated that era more than Harry James, whose soaring trumpet solos and romantic hit tunes influenced popular music for a generation. Now, Peter J. Levinson, who knew Harry James personally, has written a revealing biography of this jazz icon, based on nearly 200 interviews with musicians and friends. Harry James led a truly colorful life, and in Trumpet Blues Levinson captures it all. Beginning with James''s childhood in a traveling circus, we follow the young trumpeter''s meteoric rise in the 1930s and witness his electrifying performances with the Benny Goodman Orchestra. We see how James formed his own band in 1939, an incubator for many pop music stars of the 1940s and ''50s, including Frank Sinatra, Connie Haines, Dick Haymes, Helen Forrest, and Kitty Kallen. Combined with James''s superb musicianship, peerless trumpet technique and talented sidemen, this stellar group dominated the war Trade Reviewexcellent biography ... Music biographies really don't come any better than this superb book. * Andrew Vine, Yorkshire Post *Table of ContentsPreface ; Acknowledgments ; Everette and Maybelle ; Louise and Ben ; The Kingdom of Swing ; Ciribiribin ; You Made Me Love You ; Trees, The Legs, and The Lip ; Hollywood Royalty ; The In-Between Years ; Back to Basie ; I Don't Want to Walk Without You ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index
£17.99
Oxford University Press The Grateful Dead Reader Readers on American Musicians
Book SynopsisThe Grateful Dead are one of the most fascinating rock bands and cultural phenomena of the twentieth century. This book collects the most important and illuminating writings by and about the band, its members, and its fans (known as Deadheads), providing a rich account of the Dead and their importance in rock music and popular culture.Trade ReviewGrateful Dead literature is approaching Beatles-lit in volume, and this gathering about the band and its fans attests to how vast and dedicated the nation of the Deadheads is ... A must for Dead-heavy collections, the book is also a nice addition to any popular culture collection. * Booklist *
£15.41
Oxford University Press Myself When I Am Real The Life and Music of Charles Mingus
Book SynopsisCharles Mingus was one of the most innovative jazz musicians of the 20th century. This new biography by the acclaimed music critic Gene Santoro argues that Mingus was not only a great musician and composer but a central character in the postwar American cultural renaissance.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Physically bearish and imposing, Mingus always seemed even larger psychically, a figure to fill the room, alter the vibes, suck up all the air - a cross between Falstaff and Othello. In his marvellous hall of mirrors, Myself When I Am real, Gene Santoro has grasped him whole, or at least as whole as one can expect from mere prose. Some passages suggest the hammering rhythms of a drum solo, others the sprawl of a Mingusian piano meditation. It is a stunning achievement. * Gary Giddins, author of Visions of Jazz *Mingus's creative turbulence comes alive. we see how his life and times, including his battles with racism and the musci business and himself, were intimately entwined with his remarkable music. * Cassandra Wilson *An admirably objective attempt to come to terms with the personal and musical complexity that was Charles Mingus. Gene Santoro's comprehensively researched and critically insightful book makes Mingus as fascinating and as outrageous as Mingus himself seemed to have always wanted to be. * Albert Murray, author of Stomping the Blues *Table of ContentsPreface ; Introduction ; Prologue: Better Get It In Your Soul ; 1. Growing Up Absurd ; 2. Black Like Me ; 3. Making the Scene ; 4. Life During Wartime ; 5. Portrait of the Artist ; 6. The Big Apple, or On the Road ; 7. Pithecanthropus Erectus ; 8. Mingus Dynasty ; 9. Camelot ; 10. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady ; 11. One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest ; 12. Beneath the Underdog ; 13. Let My Children Hear Music ; 14. Changes ; 15. Don't Be Afraid, the Clown's Afraid, Too ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Discography ; Acknowledgements ; Index
£16.49
Oxford University Press The Muse That Sings Composers Speak about the Creative Process
Book SynopsisThe Muse That Sings is a collection of interviews with 25 various American composers, born between 1930 and 1960, who explain how they think in sound, mould musical ideas, and ultimately transfer sonic creations to the printed page.Trade ReviewThe effect on the reader is astonishing as one after another of these composers is revealed, warts and all, to be desperately and wonderfully human. * David McGowan, American Music Teacher *Engaging and inspirinig. * Chamber Music Magazine *The Must That Sings [is] a book which will prove fascinating to those with an interest in contemporary musical composition, and in the creative process in general ... Every decade needs a book like this, for ideas and tastes will always change and it will always require the work of scholars to document how the creative minds of an age think about their art. Ann McCutchan has provided such a work. * The Ithaca Times *These interviews with 25 composers are distilled to short, informal yet highly focused discussions ... [McCutchan] allows the voices of the composers--most of whom live and work in the U.S. and were born between 1930 and 1960--to come through with candor ... These intimate snapshots of creative artists contemplating their role and function at the end of the 20th century succeed not only in shedding light on the creative process, but in dispelling many of the negative stereotypes attached to contemporary music." --Publishers WeeklyTable of ContentsAlphabetical List of Composers ; Foreword by Leonard Slatkin (Music Director, National Symphony Orchestra) ; Introduction ; 1. Eric Stokes (b. 1930) ; 2. Steve Reich (b. 1936) ; 3. William Bolcom (b. 1938) ; 4. John Corigliano (b. 1938) ; 5. John Harbison (b. 1938) ; 6. Joan Tower (b. 1938) ; 7. John Adams (b. 1947) ; 8. Claude Baker (b. 1948) ; 9. Dan Welcher (b. 1948) ; 10. Daniel S. Godfrey (b. 1949) ; 11. Fred Lerdahl (b. 1949) ; 12. Shulamit Ran (b. 1949) ; 13. Christopher Rouse (b. 1949) ; 14. Steven Stucky (b. 1949) ; 15. Libby Larsen (b. 1950) ; 16. Lois V Vierk (b. 1951) ; 17. John Zorn (b. 1953) ; 18. Michael Daugherty (b. 1954) ; 19. James Mobberley (b. 1954) ; 20. Bruce Adolphe (b. 1955) ; 21. Bright Sheng (b. 1955) ; 22. Richard Danielpour (b. 1956) ; 23. David Lang (b. 1957) ; 24. Sebastian Currier (b. 1959) ; 25. Aaron Jay Kernis (b. 1960)
£39.42
Oxford University Press Stardust Melody The Life and Music of Hoagy Carmichael
Book SynopsisA biography of Hoagy Carmichael, composer of classic American songs such as "Georgia on My Mind", "Rockin' Chair", "Skylark", "Lazybones", and "Star Dust". The book follows Carmichael from his roaring-20s Indiana youth to Hollywood legend.Trade Review"Meticulous, admiring, perceptive and informative.... A first-rate job of showing that Carmichael's mind was deeper and tougher than first impressions might suggest." --Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post"A thorough, superb and evocative biography."--Tom Nolan, San Francisco Chronicle"Musically knowledgeable and truly dedicated to his subject, Sudhalter writes for a general audience with passion, enthusiasm, and a fine understanding of the subtleties of the songwriter's craft."--Baltimore Sun"An engaging bio."--US News & World Report"An apt and able bio of a singular talent."--Kirkus Reviews"Hailed by critics as the definitive look at the Hoosier songwriter."--Indianapolis Star"Highly readable and thoroughly researched."--William F. Gavin, The Washington Times"Sudhalter is a dedicated researcher who has to admit that his hero sometimes made a few things up, tricked cold facts into a wry story and generally saw himself in a smoky light akin to that of movies."--David Thomson, Los Angeles Times Book Review"Sudhalter's entertaining yet straightforward style propels the narrative forward, and the musical examples are a plus. The exhaustive research, including interviews with Carmichael's relatives and colleagues, makes this essential for all popular music, American culture, or Indiana collections."--Library Journal (starred review)"Richard Sudhalter's new book is undoubtedly the most well-researched biography of Hoagy Carmichael available. Anyone interested in this fine American composer should get hold of a copy immediately." --Artie Shaw"Sudhalter writes with the voice of a novelist, the eye of a historian, and the heart of the superb jazz musician he is known to be. Stardust Melody sets a new standard of literary excellence for all celebrity biographies to come." --Max Morath"Richard Sudhalter has written an elegant, carefully etched portrait of Hoagy Carmichael, his life and music, with so much history and wealth of detail in every anecdote that each one comes alive for the reader. No one but a jazz musician could have shown such insight as Sudhalter does, revealing the many secrets of the man and his music and making Hoagy's songs glow forever in the mind and heart." --Marian McPartland"With the instinct and insights of a discerning musician, Dick Sudhalter is a sensitive researcher, he's hip to how songwriters think, and he knows how to write about history and make it sing. Even Hoagy Carmichael, salty and critical as they come, would have probably pumped the author's hand and said, 'You got it, buddy.'" --Dave Frishberg
£16.49
Oxford University Press Puccini
Book SynopsisJulian Budden, one of the world''s foremost scholars of Italian opera and author of a monumental three-volume study of Verdi''s works, now offers music lovers a major new biography of one of the giants of Italian opera, Giacomo Puccini. Blending astute musical analysis with a colorful account of Puccini''s life, here is an illuminating look at some of the most popular operas in the repertoire, including Manon Lescaut, La Boheme, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot. Budden provides an illuminating look at the process of putting an opera together, the cut-and-slash of nineteenth-century Italian opera--the struggle to find the right performers for the debut of La Boheme, Puccini''s anxiety about completing Turandot (he in fact died of cancer before he did so), his animosity toward his rival Leoncavallo (whom he called Leonasino or lion-ass). Budden provides an informative analysis of the operas themselves, examining the music act by act. He highlights, among other things, the influence Trade ReviewA major book on Puccini by the supremely authoritative Julian Budden arouses the highest expectations, wonderfully fulfilled by this new volume of over 500 pages. * Philip Borg-Wheeler, Classical Music *"He makes one hungry to hear the operas once again and reconsider one's own response--what can be higher praise for music criticism?"--Tim Page, Washington Post Book World"At the least, Budden's book will stand as the bellwether of studies of Puccini's music, the starting point for further scholarly work and for informed amateurs alike. At the most, he has given us the best survey we have of Italian opera around 1900.... He has made a minor art form of operatic description in prose, expanding the old format of plot-summary-plus-favoritie-themes to include music analysis, critical response, and secure judgments as to the echoes of other composers heard at any moment. He joins all this is a prose that will engage even those who cannot follow all the musical particulars. There is more: Budden contrives in the introductory sections of his chapters to give us a canny glimpse of Puccini's life at the time of each opera. And--this is one of the most impressive features of his study--he provides in each chapter vignettes that add up to a historical sketch of the musical culture Puccini lived and worked in."--Gary Tomlinson, The New York Times Book Review"Julian Budden's book fills a serious gap. Here is a single volume combining excellent biography with an often illuminating discussion of the work.... Budden's approach to the individual operas is often fresh and engaging. His investigation of the dramatic and musical problems that Puccini encountered while writing Manon Lescaut is fascinating.... Budden's is a book for the library shelf, a reliable reference work that the reader will want to consult when program notes fail or a fresh view of the operas."--Opera News"Budden is responsible for much of the new Puccini scholarship and his synthesis of this material is often elegant."--New York Review of Books"If you want in-depth insight into Puccini's operas, replete with many stanzas of music, Budden's bio and discussion should be on your shelf."--The San Diego Union Tribune"Essential reading, Budden's biography allies in-depth scholarship with narrative pace to offer us a masterly and intensely human portrait of the man and composer. Finely researched, surely the most thoughtful biography to date of Italy's last great opera composer."--Vivien A. Hewitt, Director, Festival Puccini of Torre del Lago"Bravo Budden!!!!!! His books on Verdi have been an invaluable aid to my study and role preparation over the years, and now the Puccini volume joins them in my library. Budden manages to synthesize the historical, academic, artistic, and human aspects of Puccini's operas in a way that is totally accessible, and most useful to any serious artist or music lover."--Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs, Soprano"An enormously impressive achievement. Certainly the best book on Puccini in English. As we would expect from the author of The Operas of Verdi, Budden's discussion of Puccini's alarmingly popular music is both sensitive and challenging in its insights."--Roger Parker, Professor of Music and Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge University"Informed lay readers will gain insight while theoreticians will appreciate Budden's deeper musical analysis. His elegant turns of phrase ("rhythmic scaffolding") and obvious expertise combine in an exceptional whole."--Library Journal
£36.97
Oxford University Press, USA Chasin The Bird The Life and Legacy of Charlie Parker
Trade ReviewPriestley's dedication to setting the record straight is commendable. No doubt, his study presents the most reliable account of Parker's life. * Anna Harwell Celenza, Notes *The best overall book on Parker since Gary Giddins's photo-driven 'Celebrating Bird' of 1987.... Its 60-page discography is the most comprehensive Parker compendium yet published.... Priestley has listened to and listed everything, including all the rare, noncommercial material that's come to light in the last 20 years.... Priestley places them, for the first time, in the context of Parker's career. In so doing, he contributes significant pieces to the larger puzzle depicting Parker's role in the creation of modern jazz. Indeed, Mr. Priestley offers excellent analysis of the technical aspects of Parker's playing, explaining in detail what made his music so remarkable. * Will Friedwald, The New York Sun *Easily enjoyed in a single sitting, with your favorite Parker record.... Well served by the breadth of Priestley's musical knowledge and his tenacious desire for accuracy. * New York Times Book Review *Priestley's revised and updated biography...offers valuable insights to Bird's career, mainly because it is seen through the prism of his music.... This volume makes a valuable contribution to jazz literature.... A useful addition to the Parker library. * Down Beat *Even if you've read other books on Parker, you'll gain some fresh perspective from this one. And if you've never read a book on Parker, you'd be well-advised to make this the first. Though Priestley is clearly a fan, he writes about the good in a clear-headed way and writes about the bad unflinchingly. * Kansas City Star *Brian Priestley has not just chased but captured the elusive Bird, illuminating the turbulent life and marvelous music with human and musical insight. * Dan Morgenstern, Director, Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies, and author of Living with Jazz *Brian Priestley is one of the most accomplished jazz historians, critics, and biographers, and Chasin' the Bird is an indispensable gem * an ideal introduction to a major figure in 20th century music and an inventive interpretation of Parker's life and art that will also engage veteran jazz lovers. The comprehensive discography is a major bonus, making this a handbook every Bird chaser will relish.Gary Giddins, author of Visions of Jazz and Weather Bird *
£14.99
