Introducing George’s Jazz Nook
Welcome to George’s Jazz Nook!
We are delighted to add a new voice to our newsletters, CJO Board President and musicologist, Dr. George Blake, who will be sharing jazz history gems, and more, from time to time.
Dear CJO Community,
At the CJO, one of core goals is "to increase awareness and appreciation of jazz by engaging the community." In this introductory message, we would like to call attention to jazz hubs hiding in plain sight: bookstores.
Vincent Van Gogh once said that bookstores "remind me that there are good things in this world.”
There are some very good things at Mac's Backs and Loganberry Books this December.
Mac’s Backs
Mac’s Backs: Books on Coventry
I am personally delighted to see that Judith Tick's new biography of Ella Fitzgerald has arrived at Mac's Backs: Becoming Ella Fitzgerald: The Jazz Singer Who Transformed American Song.
Saxophone aficionado's might also check out Mac's for the new Sonny Rollins biography Saxophone Colossus: The Life and Music of Sonny Rollins or that of Cleveland's avant-garde legend, Albert Ayler: Holy Ghost: The Life and Death of Free Jazz Pioneer Albert Ayler.
I can also add that Mac's is selling copies of Invisible Soul: Uncovering Cleveland's Underground Soul Scene. With a foreword by CJO board member Mark Ribbins, this book presents a compelling hidden history of Cleveland music. Although primarily focused on the soul scene, it includes a brief section on Willie Smith - a Clevelander who arranged for Motown and the CJO. It also includes an entire chapter on legendary Cleveland jazz organist Eddie Baccus Sr.
[Mention to Mac's that the CJO sent you and you will receive a 10% discount.]
Loganberry Books
Loganberry Books
Our friends at Loganberry are recommending a lovely pile of jazz books for kiddo jazz enthusiasts. Check out their kids books about Josephine Baker, Louis Armstrong, and Nina Simone.
https://store.loganberrybooks.com/josephine-dazzling-life-josephine-baker*
https://store.loganberrybooks.com/satchmos-blues-used*
https://store.loganberrybooks.com/nina*
For collectors, Loganberry has a first edition of Benny Goodman's book:
https://store.loganberrybooks.com/kingdom-swing-used*
I also want to mention three additional books I found while browsing through the stacks:
Loganberry has Richard Crawford's biography of George Gershwin, Summertime: George Gershwin’s Life in Music. This is an excellent pairing for our upcoming "Rhapsody in Blue" concert.
If you appreciated our interest in urban music of the industrial midwest extends to the "motor city," check out Heaven Was Detroit: From Jazz to Hip-Hop and Beyond. Here you can find a unique perspective on the city that is much more dense than just the Motown sound. You'll also find out about Donald Byrd and that gem of the local scene, the Blue Bird Inn.
Finally, I want to recommend Hanif Abdurraqib’s Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest. Abdurraqib's jazz loving parents did not let him listen to most rap in the house, but they did let him listen to A Tribe Called Quest, with their use of sounds from greats like Freddie Hubbard and Milt Jackson. I recently saw this Columbus-native at a Literary Cleveland event – and he is making a splash on the national stage while wearing a jacket that says "Ohio Against the World."
*denotes books that can be purchased by CJO members for 10% off at store.loganberrybooks.com now through December 31, 2023, using coupon code JAZZ23, entered at checkout. Web orders can be picked up in-store (free of charge) or shipped (for a small fee.)
Stay tuned for the next installment of George’s Jazz Nook! Until then, be well.