Synopses & Reviews
Here is the story of a middle-class Jewish kid from Boston who became the founder of the Newport Jazz Festival and, later, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
George Wein, who pioneered the idea of bringing jazz to people beyond the club circuit, looks back on his long career and unforgettably describes his relationships sometimes smooth, sometimes tempestuous with the great figures he's known: Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk, and Miles Davis, among many, many others.
Beginning in 1950 with the opening of his legendary Boston club Storyville, Wein presented jazz in a setting that respected both the musicians and the audience while still earning a profit. Since its founding in 1954, the Newport Jazz Festival has always reflected Wein's vision and grit. Wein opened up a whole new venue to musicians, attracting music immortals as well as aspiring young artists to his outdoor stage. Over the years, Newport became synonymous with jazz festivals in the United States, and it has become the model for similar events worldwide.
Through his work, George Wein has expanded the audience for jazz more than anyone else living today, and has received France's Legion d'Honneur and numerous other awards. Myself Among Others illuminates the personalities, legends and performances of jazz's greatest era.
Review
"For as long as I can remember, George Wein has been bringing great jazz to everyone. Now, George tells the story of his journey through the history of jazz. It's fascinating." Clint Eastwood
Review
"George started as a jazz piano player, organizing keys, tempos, harmonies. He soon became a skilled organizer of people, knowing when a light touch was needed and when to rock down. Many of us have learned from him. May this book help many more." Pete Seeger
Review
"For over half a century, Wein has been a moving force in the presentation of jazz throughout the world. And the world is a better place because of his wisdom, his drive, his knowledge of and his love for the American art form: jazz." Dave Brubeck
Review
"No one could be a better advocate for jazz than George Wein. It has been and still is his life." Marian McPartland
Synopsis
No one has had a better seat in the house than George Wein. The legendary impresario has known the most celebrated figures of music in general and jazz in particular--from Duke Ellington to Ella Fitzgerald to Miles Davis to Frank Sinatra. As a founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, the Newport Folk Festival, and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Wein has brought a dazzling spectrum of musicians to millions of fans, forever changing the musical landscape.In this highly praised memoir, Wein looks back on his life and career, describing his unforgettable relationships--sometimes smooth, sometimes tempestuous--with the great musicians he has known. From what really happened when Charlie Mingus visited the White House...to how Miles Davis and the ensemble that would eventually record the greatest jazz album of all time--Kind of Blue--came together at Wein's Storyville nightclub...to the day at Newport when Bob Dylan first "went electric," here are the personalities and forces that have shaped the past half-century of popular music.
Synopsis
George Wein, who pioneered the idea of bringing jazz to people beyond the club circuit, looks back on his long career and unforgettably describes his relationships -- sometimes smooth, sometimes tempestuous -- with the great figures he's known: Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk, and Miles Davis, among many, many others. Beginning in 1950 with the opening of his legendary Boston club Storyville, Wein presented jazz in a setting that respected both the musicians and the audience while still earning a profit. Since its founding in 1954, the Newport Jazz Festival has always reflected Wein's vision and grit. Wein opened up a whole new venue to musicians, attracting music immortals as well as aspiring young artists to his outdoor stage. Over the years, Newport became synonymous with jazz festivals in the United States, and it has become the model for similar events worldwide.Through his work, George Wein has expanded the audience for jazz more than anyone else living today, and has received France's Legion d'Honneur and numerous other awards. Myself Among Others illuminates the personalities, legends and performances of jazz's greatest era.
Synopsis
A terrific new, can't-put-it-down autobiography (New York Observer) by the extraordinary man who pioneered music festivals in Newport, New Orleans, and around the world
About the Author
For the past forty years jazz impresario George Wein has been delivering music to audiences on a large scale. He has known all the major jazz figures of the last half-century. He lives in Manhattan.
Nate Chinen is a music writer for the Philadelphia City Paper. His features have also appeared in Down Beat, JazzTimes, and the Philadelphia Gazette. He lives in New York City.