Hardbop Tome

[Leeway]

Anybody have a chance to check out a recent music history book called "Hardbop Academy," by Alan Goldsher. Nicely produced, but my rushed browse at Border's didn't give me time to assess the qualityof the text. The book traces the music and careers of the various members of Blakey's groups. Here's a link if you want to check it out.
http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?id=2472566566714&pid=0634037935

[Hardbop]

I haven't read the entire book, but I did find dirt cheap press proofs of this tome in a used bookstore. I read a couple of the essays. Nothing in-depth, but relatively useful thumbnail sketches of many of the musicians who are forever referred to as "former Messengers."

[shawn·m]

Alan was good enough to answer questions about Hard Bop Academy on the BNBB a few months ago. I wish I’d saved the thread because he posted his email address for off-board communications.

I wouldn’t recommend Hard Bop Academy to any one looking for an in-depth analysis of the genre or Art Blakey —it’s not that type of book. But what it does, it does well. Alan interviewed several of Blakey’s sidemen (Wayne Shorter is conspicuously absent) and it has the warm feel of a fan’s diary put to print.

How each edition of the Messangers successively built it’s identity based on previous editions, and advancing the idea of today’s musicians making music worth paying attention to, are the two themes I enjoyed most.

[jlhoots]

I have it too.
Worthwhile, not great.
Has some nice photos I hadn't seen before.

[Leeway]

Originally posted by jlhoots
I have it too.
Worthwhile, not great.
Has some nice photos I hadn't seen before.

That was my impression. A nicely-produced volume, good pics. I think I will pick it up if I can get a good sale price on it. BTW, I was just listening to the BN Connoisseur Series Blakey "Africaine" with Lee Morgan, Shorter, and Walter davis Jr. It's a very cool album. :cool:

[jlhoots]

Try www.booksamillion.com for good prices.
Africaine is a great CD.

[Leeway]

Originally posted by jlhoots
Try www.booksamillion.com for good prices.
Africaine is a great CD.

Thanks for the suggestion. Actually, I usually do buy my books from BAM. Recently I picked up the "Making of a Love Supreme," the Blue Note Covers book, and a Bill Evans bio from them. They do have excellent prices. I bought one of their $5.00 membership passes and the extra savings paid off. I was mulling over whether I should wait and see if the Hardbop Academy goes remainder (if it does). I'll probably will go with BAM when I have a few more titles to make an order (and hopefully get free shipping).

[xricci]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0634037935.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg

We posted a review of Hard Bop Academy here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=187

[shawn·m]

A degree of closure to a long-standing BNBB question:

In Hard Bop Academy, Alan Goldsher quotes Javon Jackson as saying, “Horace Silver was the reason that Wayne wrote the way he wrote.” Unfortunately, the only context the book provides is that both Silver and Shorter wrote Messenger tunes. So what is the connection?

Alan Goldsher participated on the ol’ BNBB, primarily to promote and answer questions about his book —so I plied the question. Odd, I don’t specifically remember Alan’s answer (he did answer) except that he, too, was unsure of the meaning behind Javon’s statement.

Next, I wrote to Javon. What follows is the response I received yesterday.

I have not read the book as yet, but Wayne doesn't write like anybody. I can't see a way to compare them anyhow. One thing I know Art Blakey told me was he liked the way Horace had intros and interludes in his compositions. Freddie told me Art talked to him about that also. In that respect, I compare Benny Bolson (not Wayne) to Horace.

Well crud, and I thought I was on the cusp of profound illumination.

[makpjazz57]

A worthwhile read; while it isn't groundbreaking, I enjoy reading the interviews with the great musicians who have passed through the Blakey "college" of music.

As a non-practicing musician, I tend to shy away from those jazz books concentrating on in-depth analysis of a musician's style, music, etc.

While I don't necessarily need to read a "tell all" Enquirer-type book, I tend to enjoy a book containing interviews of the musicians who were "there" and are willing to share. One book that is a jazz bible to me is Art Taylor's "Notes and Tones." Can't get much better than having one of jazz's great musicians interviewing other jazz greats such as Johnny Griffin, Jackie McLean, etc.

Marla