Book Excerpts

Daily articles carefully curated by the All About Jazz staff. Read our popular and future articles.

BOOK EXCERPTS September 28, 2020

DOCTONE: An oral history of legendary pianist Kenny Kirkland (1955-1998)

In chapter 2 of my book Doctone, I interviewed drummer Billy Hart and we discussed his interaction with Kenny Kirkland as he emerged in the 1970's fusion scene, his unique personality, the “Kirklandese" language and Kenny's legacy as one of the great pianists and composers in this music Noah Haidu: What were your first impressions of Kenny? Billy Hart: I don't remember the exact first time I met him. Because of our age difference, I saw ...

BOOK EXCERPTS April 7, 2020

Land of the Black Squirrels

By Phillip Woolever

Land of the Black Squirrels Mwalim 266 Pages Thirty-three Enterprises 2020 In these days of pandemic pressure, it's increasingly obvious that books are a very effective method of dealing with self-isolation symptoms like boredom, frustration or depression. The smoothly-paced Land of the Black Squirrels (Thirty-three Pages, 2020) provides fictional urban scenarios centered by characters in the music and arts industry, including numerous jazz-based references. This is the first installment of a “Bronx ...

BOOK EXCERPTS March 20, 2020

The Ballad Of Tommy LiPuma

By Ben Sidran

The following is an excerpt is from “Chapter 1: Growing Up Cleveland" of The Ballad Of Tommy LiPuma by Ben Sidran (Nardis Books, 2020). When Tommy wasn't in the barbershop or working with the Sammy Dee band, he was sitting in at local nightclubs, trying to get his saxophone chops together. It was all about trying to find a sound. It wasn't just about playing in tune or playing the right notes; you were looking for a special ...

BOOK EXCERPTS November 10, 2019

In the Court of King Crimson: An Observation Over 50 Years: Level Five, VIII

By Sid Smith

On November 15, 2019, as part of King Crimson's 50th Anniversary Celebration, Panegryic will be releasing Sid Smith's significant revision and expansion of his critically acclaimed bio, In the Court of King Crimson (Helter Skelter Publishing, 2001). More than merely adding what has gone on in the nearly 20 years since the original book was published, at nearly double its size, the 2019 edition of In the Court of King Crimson: An Observation Over 50 Years is a major revision ...

BOOK EXCERPTS August 28, 2018

Mosaics: The Life and Works of Graham Collier

By Duncan Heining

The following is an excerpt is from “Chapter 9: The Eighties or Graham Collier -The Wilderness Years" of Mosaics: The Life and Works of Graham Collier by Duncan Heining (Equinox Publishing, 2018). All Rights Reserved. The late Graham Collier was a bandleader, a composer and a jazz educator. As far as this latter role was concerned he was arguably one of the most significant figures in jazz education, a point supported by the many awards he received ...

BOOK EXCERPTS September 8, 2017

Jazz Bursts Forth in Delaware Water Gap, PA

By Debbie Burke

The following is an excerpt is from Chapter 1 of The Poconos in B Flat by Debbie Burke (Xlibris, 2011). All Rights Reserved. The iconic image of your approach from Interstate 80 coming from New York City and going west is of the negative space between two massive mountains that form a backdrop behind the Delaware River. Delaware Water Gap--the first stop on the Pennsylvania side of the Interstate coming from New Jersey and NYC--has ...

BOOK EXCERPTS June 30, 2017

Go Slow: The Life Of Julie London

By Michael Owen

The following is an excerpt is from “Chapter 12: For the Night People" of Go Slow: The Life of Julie London by Michael Owen (Chicago Review Press, 2017). All Rights Reserved. In 1965, after three years of largely recording pop tunes under Liberty Records' hit-making producer Snuff Garrett, Julie London was eager to return to the types of songs--and the style of singing--which had brought her fame and success a decade earlier with her debut album, Julie ...