Jazz

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

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.
 
I think Herbie book is called Possibility s , came out a couple of years ago should be easy to find.
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!
 
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 .
 
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.
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. 👌✌️
 
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. 👌

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 🤣
 
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
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.
 
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.
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!
 
So John Coltrane’s Crescent...any good presses out there other than originals? Are current reissues digitally sourced?

Appreciate any help ✌
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:


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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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:


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.
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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