Jazz

Selaws said:
Team, need a bit of advice on jazz books if anyone has any on the subject.

I have just finished reading Beneath The Underdog by Charles Mingus and it didn't really scratch my jazz itch. It was a good book and a great look into Mingus' mind, but up until the last few chapters (where hes writing the narrative between him and his doctor/psychologist) I felt like there was very little to it other than sex, pimping, and women.

I have read Miles Davis' book and found it way more informative and 'fun' as it really painted the picture of the classic jazz era and the battles he faced as a musician. I have also recently read As Serious As Your Life by Val Wilmer which I THOROUGHLY recommend reading for a fantastic overview of the 1957-1977 jazz period (and some detailed explorations into specific musicians as well). And finally I have read pretty much every Blue Note book I have been able to get my hands on.

If anyone has any recommendations that would be fantastic. I would really like to read a biography on John Coltrane or Lee Morgan, has anyone read anything like this?

Cheers
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If you like Miles's autobiography, you might also dig Duke Ellington's. It's called Music Is My Mistress and, like Miles's, he never lets the truth get in the way of a good story.
 
seeirwin said:
...he never lets the truth get in the way of a good story.
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Lol, that reminds me of the excellent documentary about the classic photograph, A Great Day in Harlem (film the same name) and I think it was Horace Silver that is a right yarn spinner. Even an on-screen caption says something like 'Silver is known to be liberal with the truth'!
 
Brilliant album, I’ve got The 45rpm ORG and a 70’s Japanese version, I’d say the latest ones would be from digital but haven’t heard them, but it is a must have Trane.
Dark Star Boogie said:
So John Coltrane’s Crescent...any good presses out there other than originals? Are current reissues digitally sourced?

Appreciate any help ✌
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I think Herbie book is called Possibility s , came out a couple of years ago should be easy to find.
Selaws said:
Brilliant lists, thanks guys! I will certainly hunt some of these down. I didn't realise Herbie Hancock had an autobiography, I will be seeing him live later in the year so will aim to get this and read before seeing him!
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Wayne Shorter has a book as well, Footprints by Michelle Mercer , done with his input, It's not as good as Herbies for me, there is a lot less about the music in it, still worth a read if you can pick it up cheap, or from the Library for Free !!
There is another Coltrane book by Ben Ratliff called the The Story Of A Sound about his evolution which I got from the library a few years ago which I enjoyed, might have to reread that one soon .
 
stpaulbrowns said:
Just a quick PSA that the new Tone Poet (9/6) and BN80 (9/13) presales have gone up on Amazon:

Donald Byrd - Chant $35
Stanley Turrentine - Hustlin' $35
Kenny Dorham - Una Mas $25

Direct links available via the 2019-20 Jazz Reissues (N&G) spreadsheet.
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Nice! I completely forgot Una Mas was getting reissued. Perfect.

Also, thanks for putting the energy into getting all this info out there and creating the spreadsheet. 👌✌️
 
Dark Star Boogie said:
Nice! I completely forgot Una Mas was getting reissued. Perfect.

Also, thanks for putting the energy into getting all this info out there and creating the spreadsheet. 👌✌
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Also been waiting for a good reissue of Una Mas. Its the BN80 right (can't open the spreadsheet at work unfortunately)? I have the Johnny Griffin and im impressed at the sound for the price point. Pretty good stuff. Its my birthday in a couple of weeks and I sneakily saw my girlfriend looking at them online so Im thinking I might get at least 1 more soon 🤣
 
Selaws said:
Binker Golding has a new album coming out soon. I listened to the sample track and its decent. Its on Gearbox as well, their pressings (the ones I have at least) have been amazing, really good quality.

Check it out here
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Speaking of Gearbox, I read that they are issuing an unreleased Tubby Hayes album this month, and later a box set of analog-sources reissues of his entire Fontana catalog.

Tubby is very under-rated.
 
indiana45s said:
Speaking of Gearbox, I read that they are issuing an unreleased Tubby Hayes album this month, and later a box set of analog-sources reissues of his entire Fontana catalog.

Tubby is very under-rated.
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Funnily enough I just saw that Gilles Peterson posted a photo about that. He said something along the lines of it being the missing piece to the Tubby Hayes story. Exciting stuff!
 
Dark Star Boogie said:
So John Coltrane’s Crescent...any good presses out there other than originals? Are current reissues digitally sourced?

Appreciate any help ✌
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My guess would be that most new ones are digitally sourced...didn't a lot of Coltrane's master tapes burn in that fire a few years back? Not sure if Crescent was among those tapes though...

There's an ORG pressing but prices are crazy ($150 on discogs) and I think it's out of print by now. I have had some luck finding early pressings of it for not too expensive, so I'd just keep an eye out. Will let ya know if I see any!
 
Hey there fellow jazz-heads. Does anyone here own the MoFi Miles Smiles? I received mine a couple of weeks ago and found it has a scratch, so I'm asking for a replacement. However, I spun it yesterday before packaging it to send it back to Music Direct, and I noticed some sort of buzz or siblance in the high frequencies throughout the record. I recorded this short video where this issue can be heard:

VID_20190718_202820.mp4

drive.google.com drive.google.com

Has anyone here had this issue with their copy? I'm trying to determine if its worth getting a replacement or if I should ask for a refund. If my replacement copy will fix the scratch but still have this high frequency buzz, then I'm better off with the Speakers Corner pressing.
 
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agutierrezb said:
Hey there fellow jazz-heads. Does anyone here own the MoFi Miles Smiles? I received mine a couple of weeks ago and found it has a scratch, so I'm asking for a replacement. However, I spun it yesterday before packaging it to send it back to Music Direct, and I noticed som sort of buzz or siblance in the high frequencies throughout the record. I recorded this short video where this issue can be heard:

VID_20190718_202820.mp4

drive.google.com drive.google.com

Has anyone here had this issue with their copy? I'm trying to determine if its worth getting a replacement or if I should ask for a refund. If my replacement copy will fix the scratch but still have this high frequency buzz, then I'm better off with the Speakers Corner pressing.
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Im no help on this im afraid, but just wanted to say I also have a pair of those YU6's in the same matte black. Love them to bits, they're so diverse and sound fantastic.
 
Hey team. Not sure if anyone here is interested, but I just made an Instagram account where I plan on adding photos of records, little extras I might find online, and notes etc. I really enjoy reading up on the history behind albums so this is a chance for me to geek out! Follow here if your interested at Selaws.Spins

I imagine it will mainly be jazz records that I will add. I got to the point where my regular instagram became constant record postings (in the story) and I realise that 99% of my friends and family dont really have that much interest so I thought it might be worthwhile setting up a stand-alone one, rather than bore them!
 
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