Best Jazz Musician Biographies

— The Philadelphia Inquirer With his brand of keenly intelligent humor that ranges from world history to historical politics, sexual politics, mad ancient kings, and chickens with guns, Eddie Izzard has built an extraordinary fan base that transcends age, gender, and race. "[A] candid new book...The comedic tour de force [Eddie Izzard] opens up about his mother's death, coming out as transgender, and his quest for romantic love." "Beloved British comedian Eddie Izzard [writes] with the same wit and candor that characterizes his stand-up [and] tackles his sexuality, his troubled childhood, and the tumultuous early days of his career, even as he recounts his many excellent roles, albums, and tours." Izzard’s chronicle is reminiscent of his shows, a stream of surprising associations, full of footnotes and copious asides on subjects like NASA and Action Man.” —Nick A. Zaino III, The Boston Globe. I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of working in a Vatican slaughterhouse, acting as Deputy Foreign Minister in Gladstone’s first administration, his whacky exploits at his uncle’s Taxidermy Cafe, and his tragic death at the age of only eight at the Morris Dancing Finals in Bruges.” —John Cleese “Eddie Izzard is my favorite stand-up chameleon.” —Eric Idle.

— The Philadelphia Inquirer With his brand of keenly intelligent humor that ranges from world history to historical politics, sexual politics, mad ancient kings, and chickens with guns, Eddie Izzard has built an extraordinary fan base that transcends age, gender, and race. His films include Valkyrie ; Ocean’s Thirteen and Ocean’s Twelve ; Across the Universe ; Mystery Men ; Shadow of the Vampire ; The Cat’s Meow ; Lost Christmas ; Castles in the Sky ; and Whisky Galore . His stage appearances include David Mamet’s Race and The Cryptogram ; the title role in Marlowe’s Edward II ; 900 Oneonta ; and A Day in the Death of Joe Egg in London and on Broadway, which garnered him a Tony nomination for Best Actor.

— The Philadelphia Inquirer With his brand of keenly intelligent humor that ranges from world history to historical politics, sexual politics, mad ancient kings, and chickens with guns, Eddie Izzard has built an extraordinary fan base that transcends age, gender, and race. The experience is akin to him sitting down and having a chat with you, which, we can all agree, sounds delightful.” —Thomas Burns Scully, Popdust.com "[A] candid new book...The comedic tour de force [Eddie Izzard] opens up about his mother's death, coming out as transgender, and his quest for romantic love." "Beloved British comedian Eddie Izzard [writes] with the same wit and candor that characterizes his stand-up [and] tackles his sexuality, his troubled childhood, and the tumultuous early days of his career, even as he recounts his many excellent roles, albums, and tours." Izzard’s chronicle is reminiscent of his shows, a stream of surprising associations, full of footnotes and copious asides on subjects like NASA and Action Man.” —Nick A. Zaino III, The Boston Globe. And oh yeah – it’s pretty freaking funny too.” — The Maine Edge “Laughter trumps sorrow in candid comedian Eddie Izzard’s Believe Me .” —Sloane Crosley, Vanity Fair. I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of working in a Vatican slaughterhouse, acting as Deputy Foreign Minister in Gladstone’s first administration, his whacky exploits at his uncle’s Taxidermy Cafe, and his tragic death at the age of only eight at the Morris Dancing Finals in Bruges.” —John Cleese “Eddie Izzard is my favorite stand-up chameleon.” —Eric Idle. His stage appearances include David Mamet’s Race and The Cryptogram ; the title role in Marlowe’s Edward II ; 900 Oneonta ; and A Day in the Death of Joe Egg in London and on Broadway, which garnered him a Tony nomination for Best Actor.

In the early days of swing dancing, Frankie Manning stood out for his moves and his innovative routines. Bette Midler, student and fan "The first-person accounts of Manning's life capture his vibrancy, humor and charm...this vivid memoir by one of swing dancing's innovators and stars is a must for lovers of dance, jazz and African-American history." "Frankie Manning has now emerged to share the most informative creative insight to date...sensitively co-written by Cynthia Millman, the book throws new light on broad swathes of original jazz dance practices...FRANKIE MANNING chronicles the dedication, rehearsals, and heard-earned technical virtuosity of a dance form often seen as reckless exuberance. -- Dancing Times. "Assembled from interviews Millman conducted with Manning over 13 years, joins Norma Miller's Swingin' at the Savoy, written with Evette Jensen (also published by Temple, 1996), in recounting how some African American social dances gained international renown...Well-chosen photographs evoke the era and confirm the vibrancy of the dance forms. Appendixes providing a Manning time line, biographical sketches of Lindy hoppers, and a listing of swing dance resources greatly enhance the volume... Summing Up: Recommended." "The book serves as an insightful social history of the 20th century and the American vernacular jazz dance - a gem for anyone interested in this history of dance...Manning and Millman's book is not only a gift to the contemporary Lindy Hop scene, but a must-read for all dancers."

NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories is the first tell-all autobiography from one of the world's most influential and controversial punk bands. If you need a little history lesson on how all this shit started, and what the true meaning of being punk rock is, I suggest you read this book now! Classic Rock , May 2016 “Compiled in the style of Motley Crue's The Dirt , this readable and engaging account of a band who live life almost as fast as the music they play is predictably rip-roaring For being a book that spares nothing, this one is hard to beat.”. Their new book, The Hepatitis Bathtub And Other Stories , details it all and does so in true, painfully honest NOFX fashion The band held nothing back.”. NeuFutur , 4/6/16 “Surprisingly sincere Much like the band's music, which buries moments of deep political and emotional topics inside of goofy, often sophomoric humor, the book's emotive moments are buttressed by wild stories about partying on the road Even if you've never been a big fan of NOFX, the book is a refreshing honest look at a struggling independent band dead set on compromising nothing and still managing to be successful.”. Bad Feeling Magazine, 5/15/16 “With often unflinching honestly, NOFX have recounted a harrowing story that showcases the real life pain behind the band's often-obnoxious façade. In the beginning, you'll be glad these people weren't your friends, but by the end you'll wish they were A book that's impossible to put down—even if you will occasionally want to hold it at arm's length.”. Like the few great band bios, the array of experiences described in The Hepatitis Bathtub are enough to set anyone into contemplation about strength and perseverance, love and depravity, camaraderie, and a place for misfit rock and rollers in a society that to this day clings to rigid standards. Tampa Bay Times , 4/17/16 “A harrowing memoir The Hepatitis Bathtub is peopled with lunatics, sociopaths, addicts and loved ones who couldn't escape the punk abyss, with the band struggling to survive dark turns ranging from drug abuse to counterfeiting to disastrous investments to friends' deaths to, um, matricide (allegedly).”. Exclaim.ca, 4/18/16 “Tells the band's rise from shitty L.A. upstarts to the kings of pop-punk It's also teeming with the kinds of sordid tales of drunken hooliganism and abject squalor that would put Mötley Crüe to shame.”. Chapter 16, 4/20/16 “A tell-all memoir The overarching themes of the book are universal and inspiring, but on a concrete level this memoir is pretty raw Absolute candor is actually what unifies the book and makes it impossible to put down From their humble beginnings in one of the country's toughest punk scenes to superstardom, NOFX never fails to entertain.”. Nashville Scene , 4/21/16 “[A] revealing new memoir Staggering and, in some cases, heartbreaking But Hepatitis Bathtub makes it impossible to look the other way The format reads like a sweeping, intriguing conversation, but the book also has a cinematic quality, as each person recalls the same moments in time from his own perspective.”. Nashville Tennessean , 4/20/16 “Offers a no-holds-barred look at the band, as the four members—‘Fat Mike' Burkett, Aaron ‘El Jefe' Abeyta, Eric Melvin and Erik ‘Smelly' Sandin—share memories from their 30-plus years together.”. , 4/25/16 “Every bit as hilarious, disgusting and boundary-hyphen free as you'd expect from a band who've spent three decades in the punk trenches filling themselves with drugs and booze.”. New Noise , 4/12/16 “The candid demeanor of their stories mirrors the ethics the band have held all along—not always pleasant, but a direct reflection of their early DIY roots Hepatitis Bathtub covers it all. Whether a casual listener, hardcore fan, or a ‘couldn't give a fuck about NOFX' character, this book is an evolutionary tale of grimy, realistic fun worth learning to read for.”. No attempt is made to cover or smooth out any rough or hard memories, everything feels as though it has been included in the name of telling the whole story The character of each band member is meticulously presented and articulated and, after one has made it through the whole book, readers are left feeling as though they truly know them In a world where many rock bios seek to do little more than collect myths, NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories bravely stands and tells the great, unbelievable truth.”.

The fruits of this lifetime’s immersion are distilled in this remarkable book, grounded in the most recent Bach scholarship but moving far beyond it, and explaining in wonderful detail the ideas on which Bach drew, how he worked, how his music is constructed, how it achieves its effects—and what it can tell us about Bach the man. In performance and now in print, Mr. Gardiner is Bach's most eloquent champion.”. — The Wall Street Journal. As eloquent a writer as he is a musician, Gardiner brings to his study the invaluable perspective of the practitioner.”. — The New York Times Book Review. “So thoughtful, well-researched, and beautifully written that it should satisfy both the well-informed enthusiast and readers simply seeking to become better acquainted with a musical giant. So it is with John Eliot Gardiner’s Bach .”. — The Daily Beast “A nuanced account. [Gardiner] writes with the care of a scholar, the knowledge of an expert musician, and the passion of a believer.”. — The Christian Science Monitor. [He] has done a masterly, monumental job of taking the measure of Bach the man and the musician.”. — The New York Times. he also comments on these scores from practical experience, having spent countless hours working out instrumental balances and sonorities, textures and dynamics, in concert halls and churches alike.”. — The Washington Post. and a powerful sense of its cultural context, structural evolution and doctrinal intent. His ‘portrait’ reads like a pilgrim’s progress, in which a privileged man-of-the-modern-world is transformed by Bach’s musical revelation.”. — Financial Times. [Gardiner] discovers a wealth of hitherto unseen invention and ingenuity.”. — The Economist. “An erudite work resting on prodigious research and experience and deep affection and admiration.”. — Kirkus Reviews. “Typical John Eliot to combine so much erudition with even more passion and enthusiasm. John Eliot Gardiner uses his extraordinary immersion in Bach’s music to illuminate Bach the man more brilliantly than in any previous work, and has created his own deeply moving work of art.”. —Amanda Foreman, author of A World on Fire. Like all great biographies of creative artists it builds a bridge from the past to the present and brings the work to new life.”. —Ian Bostridge. [Gardiner] tells this long and richly involved story in a way that makes everything clear, and sets the life and the music in a historical perspective where every detail is relevant and every comment illuminating. Simply as a biography this is splendid, but the fact that it comes with such a wealth of musical understanding and experience makes it invaluable.

The manager who shepherded Van Halen from obscurity to rock stardom goes behind the scenes to tell the complete, unadulterated story of David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, and the legendary band that changed rock music. A man who’d worked with some of rock’s biggest and most notorious names, Monk spent seven years with Van Halen, serving initially as their tour manager then as their personal manager until 1985, when he and David Lee Roth exited as controversy, infighting, and egos consumed the band. Lifting back the curtain on one of the great untold stories of rock music, Monk details the most outrageous escapades from his time as confidant, fixer, and promoter—from hotel room destruction to outrageous backstage behavior to Eddie Van Halen’s high-profile marriage to Valerie Bertinelli to the incredible drug use and drinking that would ultimately fuel the conflict between the band members.

” — Complex “A cautionary tale that ends in triumph.” — GQ “A revelation and a welcome addition to hip-hop’s literary legacy.” — All Hip Hop. Born in rural Bessemer, Alabama, Radric Delantic Davis became Gucci Mane in East Atlanta, where the rap scene is as vibrant as the dope game. He inspired and mentored a new generation of artists and producers: Migos, Young Thug, Nicki Minaj, Zaytoven, Mike Will Made-It, Metro Boomin. In his extraordinary autobiography, the legend takes us to his roots in Alabama, the streets of East Atlanta, the trap house, and the studio where he found his voice as a peerless rapper. There are scenes from Gucci Mane’s new autobiography that seem better fit for a gripping Oscar drama than for the story of a guy who recently won his first MTV Video Music Award.” —GQ. The book provides incredible insight into one of the most influential rappers of the last decade, detailing a volatile and fascinating life . By the end, every reader will have a greater understanding of Gucci Mane, the man and the musician.” —PITCHFORK. A thorough look into the experiences that molded one of rap's most polarizing figures in recent memory.” —VICE. Through sheer grit, shrewd intelligence, and a stubborn unwillingness to be counted out, he transformed himself from a street hustler, drug dealer, and occasional strong-armed robber into a modern day Zone 6 prophet. Even while incarcerated, Gucci remained a cult hero to a generation that reached far beyond the Southern city where his influence first blossomed. His is a story of overcoming adversity, taming internal demons and rejecting the imposed labels of others." “The Autobiography of Gucci Mane, written with music journalist Neil Martinez-Belkin, quietly defies the conventions of the celebrity memoir genre; in parts, it reads like what I can only describe as pop culture poetry. In its conversational candor and the razor-sharp image it evokes of a particular era, it felt reminiscent of Patti Smith’s Just Kids.” —LITERARY HUB.

He describes growing up Catholic in Freehold, New Jersey, amid the poetry, danger, and darkness that fueled his imagination, leading up to the moment he refers to as “The Big Bang”: seeing Elvis Presley’s debut on The Ed Sullivan Show . Like many of his songs (“Thunder Road,” “Badlands,” “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” “The River,” “Born in the U.S.A,” “The Rising,” and “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” to name just a few), Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography is written with the lyricism of a singular songwriter and the wisdom of a man who has thought deeply about his experiences. Born to Run takes readers on a riveting ride through the everyman rock star’s deeply lived existence.” — Associated Press. His story is intimate and personal, but he has an interest in other people and a gift for sizing them up..” —Dwight Garner, The New York Times. He delivers the story of Bruce—in digestibly short chapters—via an informally steadfast Jersey plainspeak that’s worked and deftly detailed and intimate with its readers—cleareyed enough to say what it means when it has hard stories to tell, yet supple enough to rise to occasions requiring eloquence—sometimes rather pleasingly subsiding into the syntax and rhythms of a Bruce Springsteen song." “A virtuoso performance, the 508-page equivalent to one of Springsteen and the E Street Band's famous four-hour concerts: Nothing is left onstage, and diehard fans and first-timers alike depart for home sated and yet somehow already aching for more.” — NPR.

What a book The Beatles Anthology is! They talk in turn about those early years and how they came to join the band that would make them known around the world as John, Paul, George and Ringo. At last, here is The Beatles' own story. Those are augmented by excerpts from interviews with John that are integrated effectively and almost seamlessly with the new material, and by occasional comments from the group's closest associates, such as recording producer George Martin. Although the contents are somewhat sanitized--this is, after all, essentially a group autobiography--the four address less-pleasant incidents, such as the sacking of original Beatles drummer Pete Best and the petty squabbles that led to the group's 1970 breakup.

"To the readers of this book you need to know that EW&F is simply the greatest living group in my lifetime. White reflects on the great blessings music has brought to his life and the struggles he’s endured: his mother leaving him behind in Memphis when he was four; learning to play the drums with Booker T. Jones; moving to Chicago at eighteen and later Los Angeles after leaving the Ramsey Lewis Trio; forming EWF, only to have the original group fall apart; working with Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond; his diagnosis of Parkinson’s; and his final public performance with the group at the 2006 Grammy Awards. The band’s performances were no less forgettable than their perennial hits: “Shining Star,” “Reasons,” “Got to Get You into My Life,” “September,” “Boogie Wonderland,” and “Let’s Groove.” Maurice also produced music for Deniece Williams, the Emotions, Neil Diamond, James Ingram, Barbra Streisand, and Jennifer Holliday. Maurice White’s story illuminates Earth, Wind & Fire’s position as a band essential to American culture, and offers an intimate look at his final days, from his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease to his faith, which helped him not only to cope, but also to savor every single moment.

Most of all, though, the years were filled with music being made. But you’ll also find a few recordings that we’ve never shared, some of my favorites.