Book Reviews

Matt Ruddick and the Funkiest Man Alive

Matt Ruddick co-founder of Kind Of Jazz and author of Funny Valentine: The Story Of Chet Baker has recently published his second book Funkiest Man Alive: Rufus Thomas and Memphis...

Willard Jenkins: Ain’t But A Few of Us

Willard Jenkins biography describes him as ‘consultant, arts administrator, artistic director, writer, journalist, broadcaster, educator and oral historian’. This doesn’t...

Giant Steps: Diverse Journeys in British Jazz

David Burke’s new book is an immensely important addition to the world of Jazz. As I write Covid restrictions are still on but soon they will be gone…..   We have been...

Funny Valentine: The Story of Chet Baker by Matthew Ruddick

Although I am very late in writing about this beautiful book, I believe there is never a bad time to shout about something wonderful. Much has been written, discussed, filmed and...

Tubby Hayes, The Life Behind The Tenor

“Tubby Hayes, The Life Behind The Tenor” a brand new book, beautifully put together by Mark Baxter, the writer, filmmaker and PR man as well as great fan of Tubby Hayes, of...

THE BIG LOVE – Life & Death with Bill Evans

Editor’s note: Bill Evans jazz music continues to enrich my life. The complex infusion of his musical expression of life’s grief, grace, and gratitude is to hear his...

Book Review – The History of European Jazz – (Equinox, 2018)

 The History of European Jazz: the Music, Musicians and Audience in Context, edited by Francesco Martinelli (Equinox, 2018) On a recent visit to Istanbul, in Europe’s most...

Sophisticated Giant | The long awaited biography of Dexter Gordon

It’s been a long time coming however the biography of Dexter Gordon, written by his wife and longtime manager Maxine Gordon, is now available for pre-order ahead of...

Mark Murphy: This is Hip, a biography by Peter Jones.

Guest Post by Peter Jones. When it comes to iconic male jazz vocalists there is one performer that is impossible to ignore, Mark Murphy. Born in Syracuse on March 14, 1932, Murphy...

How Hugh Hefner And Playboy Changed The Face Of Music

This article was originally posted in July 2015 and now re-posted on the day the news of Hugh Hefner’s passing at the age of 91. “A comprehensive and wildly...

Jazz, made in Italy – Anna Harwell Celenza’s superb new book!

Anna Harwell Celenza’s book “Jazz Italian Style” published by CUP (Cambridge University Press) was published earlier this year and I was hooked.  I need to clarify: this is...