JAZZ PEOPLE

by Valerie Wilmer ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 19, 1971

The emphasis is on the people in these fourteen interviews, the personalities behind the jazz, their moods ambitions, influences. Like drummer Billy Higgins rappin' about gigs with Ornette Coleman when nobody was in to his kind of music -- ""Cats wouldn't even dig being around him. . . . When he started playing, they figured, 'Well, if that's what's happening, where am I?'"" Or the Black Bartok, composer Cecil Taylor, talking about influence John Cage and his own frustrations in American society. Or old timer Buck Clayton pounding out his own personal enthusiasm -- ""First of all, music is a ball. It's -- what you call it -- self-inspiration. If nobody else is going to inspire you, you inspire yourself and you end up just playing."" Other interviewees include Eddie Davis, Art Farmer, Babs Gonzales, Jimmy Heath, Thelonious Monk, Archie Shepp, Big Joe Turner and Randy Weston. The author observes well and the profiles are short and sharp with high notes for the buff.

Pub Date: April 19, 1971

ISBN: 0306804344

Page Count: -

Publisher: Bobbs-Merrill

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1971

Categories: NONFICTION