Synopses & Reviews
and#147;Meticulously researched, detailed and documented, this long awaited overview justly establishes Konitz as one of the most consistently brilliant, adventurous and original improvisers in the jazz traditionand#151;a genius as rare as Bird himself.and#8221;
and#151;John Zorn
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and#147;Hamiltonand#8217;s work may well mark the inception of a format new to writing on Western music, one which avoids both the self-aggrandizing of autobiography and the stylized subjectification of biography.and#8221;
and#151;The Wire
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and#147;An extraordinary approach to a biography, with the man himself speaking for extended sessions. The main vibration I felt from Leeand#8217;s words was total honesty, almost to a fault. Konitz shows himself to be an acute observer of the scene, full of wisdom and deep musical insights, relevant to any historical period regardless of style. The asides by noted musicians are beautifully woven throughout the pages. I couldnand#8217;t put the book downand#151;it is the definition of a living history.and#8221;
and#151;David Liebman
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The preeminent altoist associated with the and#147;cooland#8221; school of jazz, Lee Konitz was one of the few saxophonists of his generation to forge a unique sound independent of the influence of Charlie Parker. In the late 1940s, Konitz began his career with the Claude Thornhill band, during which time he came into contact with Miles Davis, with whom he would later work on the legendary Birth of the Cool sessions. Konitz is perhaps best known through his association with Lennie Tristano, under whose influence much of his sound evolved, and for his work with Stan Kenton and Warne Marsh. His recordings have ranged from cool bop to experimental improvisation and have appeared on such labels as Prestige, Atlantic, Verve, and Polydor.
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Crafted out of numerous interviews between the author and his subject, the book offers a unique look at the story of Lee Konitzand#8217;s life and music, detailing Konitzand#8217;s own insights into his musical education and his experiences with such figures as Miles Davis, Stan Kenton, Warne Marsh, Lennie Tristano, Charles Mingus, Bud Powell, and Bill Evans.
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Andy Hamilton is a jazz pianist and contributor to major jazz and contemporary music magazines. He teaches philosophy, and the history and aesthetics of jazz, at Durham University in the United Kingdom. He is also the author of the book Aesthetics and Music (Continuum 2007).
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Joe Lovano is a Grammy Awardand#150;winning tenor saxophonist. His most recent album is Streams of Expression.
Review
"A composer and music educator, Combs is fully equipped to tackle the technical particulars of Dameron's work ... to readers with a musical background, particularly those interested in jazz composition and arranging,andnbsp;these probing and intelligent explorations of an unsung great's work make
Dameronia an essential addition to their library."
and#8212;Jazz Times
Synopsis
The first authoritative biography of jazz great Tadd Dameron
Synopsis
Dameronia is the first authoritative biography of Tadd Dameron, an important and widely influential figure in jazz history as one of the most significant composers and arrangers of jazz, swing, bebop, and big band. He arranged for names like Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Jimmie Lunceford, and Dizzy Gillespie and played with Bull Moose Jackson and Benny Golson. This book sets out to clarify Dameron's place in the development of jazz in the postand#8211;World War II era. It also attempts to shed light on the tragedy of his retreat from the center of jazz activity in the 1950s. By tracing Dameron's career, one finds that until 1958, when he was incarcerated for drug related offenses, he was at the forefront of developments in jazz, sometimes anticipating trends that would not develop fully for several years. Dameron was also an important influence on several high-profile musicians, including Miles Davis, Benny Golson, and Frank Foster. Dameron was a very private man, and while in some aspects of his life he will probably remain an enigma, this book manages to give an intimate portrait of his life at a couple of key stages: the height of his career in 1949 and the brief but productive period between his release from prison and his death.
About the Author
Paul Combs is a professional musician, composer, and educator.