Jazzhouse Diaries

W. Royal Stokes’ Roundup of 90 or So Jazz, Blues, Beyond, and Other Books Published in the Past Year or So (2014)

December 29th 2014

BIOGRAPHIES, DISCOGRAPHIES, ETC.
HISTORY, REFERENCE, CRITICISM, ETC.
COFFEE-TABLE BOOKS
SCARECROW PRESS
MISCELLANEOUS

1) BIOGRAPHIES, DISCOGRAPHIES, ETC.

The Ivory Men: Black Bob & Blind John 1932-1942: A Discography (Chris Hillman Books), by Christopher Hillman and Daniel Gugolz with Paolo Fornara, presents pianists Black Bob and Blind John Davis in a variety of combos recorded by Vocalion, Bluebird, and other labels during the period cited. This 78-page thoroughly documented discography can — as do the earlier monographs by former publisher Cygnet — serve as a model for discographical research. Acting as musical archaeologists, the authors have unearthed all available information about the two musicians and their recordings. Highly recommended for both its text and the accompanying CD that repeated listening well rewards. (Order from gooferdust@hotmail.com) Photographs, illustrations of record labels, bibliography, index, and a CD of 26 tracks.

Posted by wrstokes under W. Royal Stokes | Comments Off on W. Royal Stokes’ Roundup of 90 or So Jazz, Blues, Beyond, and Other Books Published in the Past Year or So (2014)

W. Royal Stokes’ Roundup of 85 or So Jazz, Blues, Beyond, and Other Books Published in the Past Year or So (2013)

April 23rd 2014

1) BIOGRAPHIES, DISCOGRAPHIES, ETC.
2) HISTORY, REFERENCE, CRITICISM, ETC.
3) COFFEE-TABLE BOOKS
4) SCARECROW PRESS
5) MISCELLANEOUS

1) BIOGRAPHIES, DISCOGRAPHIES, ETC.

I chose Terry Teachout’s Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington (Gotham Books) as 2013’s Best Jazz Book in my “BEST AND NOTABLE RELEASES OF 2013” on my blog and I stand wholeheartedly behind that judgment despite the carping here and there among the jazz punditry. Teachout delves more deeply into the life, career, and music of Ellington than previous biographers and, yes, he does find flaws of character, some deficiencies in Duke’s composing ability, and sloppy working habits that others have neglected to point out. That is what makes his book so absorbing, rewarding, and honest. Teachout’s biography of this preeminent artist and jazz icon is, in fact, an homage to Ellington. In Duke, Teachout has another winner to place alongside his 2010 Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong and 2003 The Skeptic: A Life of H. L. Mencken. All three are page-turners. Photos, an appendix of “Fifty Key Recordings by Duke Ellington,” bibliography, notes, index.’

Posted by wrstokes under W. Royal Stokes | Comments Off on W. Royal Stokes’ Roundup of 85 or So Jazz, Blues, Beyond, and Other Books Published in the Past Year or So (2013)

W. Royal Stokes’ Roundup of 135 Jazz, Blues, and Beyond Books Published in the Past Year or So (2012)

March 4th 2013

1) Locale-based histories of jazz
2) Collections of jazz, blues, and popular music photographs
3) Essay collections
4) Reference books
5) Biographies
6) Fiction
7) Social histories and interpretations
8) Coffee-table books
9) Scarecrow Press
10) Blues, Gospel, etc.
11) Folk music, etc.
12) Biographies and autobiographies of pop musicians

Posted by wrstokes under W. Royal Stokes | Comments Off on W. Royal Stokes’ Roundup of 135 Jazz, Blues, and Beyond Books Published in the Past Year or So (2012)

W. Royal Stokes Interviews Guitarist Sheryl Bailey

April 25th 2010

I first met guitarist Sheryl Bailey in 1994 at Twins, a restaurant in Washington, D.C., founded in 1986 by jazz- loving Ethiopian twin sisters Kelly and Maze Tesfaye. This was when the restaurant was still on Colorado Avenue, a block east of 16th Street. A few years later the club moved downtown to a U Street location and has for more than a decade thrived as a major venue, serving Ethiopian and Caribbean cuisine and featuring a wide spectrum of jazz styles. Continue Reading »

Posted by wrstokes under Player Profiles & W. Royal Stokes | Comments Off on W. Royal Stokes Interviews Guitarist Sheryl Bailey

W. Royal Stokes’ Best CDs of 2009

December 29th 2009

Each category is in alphabetical order

10 Best CDs

Fred Anderson, 21st Century Chase (Delmark)
Joshua Breakstone Trio, No One New (Capri)
The Diva Jazz Trio, Never Never Land (Arbors)
Keith Jarrett, Testament, Paris/London (ECM)
Ramsey Lewis, Songs From the Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey (Concord)
Irwin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Book One (World Village/Harmonia Mundi)
Resonance Big Band Plays Tribute to Oscar Peterson (Resonance)
Roswell Rudd, Trombone Tribe (Soundscape)
Carol Sudhalter, The Octave Tunes (Alfa Music)
Mark Weinstein and Omar Sosa, Tales From the Earth (Otà)

Posted by wrstokes under Top 10, 2009 & W. Royal Stokes | No Comments »