Drummin' men : the heartbeat of jazz : the swing years

Burt Korall is widely recognized as the most authoritative writer on jazz drumming. His first book Drummin' Men--The Heartbeat of Jazz: The Swing Era is considered a classic. It was praised by Nat Hentoff as "a book that illuminates not only the pantheon of jazz drummers in classic jazz, but makes clear the very essence of the jazz spirit." Now, in this exciting sequel, Korall offers a richly informative history of drumming in the Bebop era. Bebop--hard driving, discordant, melodically unconventional--introduced new sounds and innovative rhythms that changed the face of jazz. Korall looks at this music through the eyes of the musicians themselves, covering a whole range of important jazz drummers, but focusing upon the most original and significant--principally Kenny Clarke, Max Roach, and Art Blakey. Korall provides a knowledgeable background about the history of bebop--and the unfortunate and almost universal heroin addiction that swept through the jazz world in the wake of Charlie Parker's habit. The book contains Korall's own memoir of nearly 50 years in the jazz world, linked by his narrative of the careers of these drummers and their place in the bebop jazz scene. But the most remarkable aspect of the book is the oral history that weaves together the stories of the drummers themselves as well as their friends and contemporaries. This is one of the most readable jazz histories in recent years, as well as one of the most authoritative and significant. It takes readers inside the heads of the men who drove the beat, to convey the excitement and originality of the bebop era Burt Korall Is Widely Recognized As The Most Authoritative Writer On Jazz Drumming. His First Book, Drummin' Men - The Heartbeat Of Jazz: The Swing Era, Is Considered A Classic. It Was Praised By Nat Hentoff As A Book That Illuminates Not Only The Pantheon Of Jazz Drummers In Classic Jazz, But Makes Clear The Very Essence Of The Jazz Spirit. Now, In This Sequel, Korall Offers An Informative History Of Drumming In The Bebop Era. Bebop - Hard Driving, Discordant, Melodically Unconventional - Introduced New Sounds And Innovative Rhythms That Changed The Face Of Jazz. Korall Looks At This Music Through The Eyes Of The Musicians Themselves, Covering A Whole Range Of Important Jazz Drummers But Focusing On The Most Original And Significant - Principally, Kenny Clarke, Max Roach, And Art Blakey. Korall Provides A Knowledgeable Background About The History Of Bebop - And The Unfortunate And Almost Universal Heroin Addiction That Swept Through The Jazz World In The Wake Of Charlie Parker's Habit. The Book Contains Korall's Own Memoir Of Nearly Fifty Years In The Jazz World, Linked By His Narrative Of The Careers Of These Drummers And Their Place In The Bebop Jazz Scene. But The Most Remarkable Aspect Of The Book Is The Oral History That Weaves Together The Stories Of The Drummers Themselves And Those Of Their Friends And Contemporaries.--jacket. 1. Bebop. Two Drummer's Views Of Things. Bebop--some Comments. Bop And Drums--a New World -- 2. From Swing To Bop--the Visionaries. Jo Jones (1911-1985). Sidney Catlett (1910-1951) -- 3. Transitional Figures. Lou Fromm (1919-??). Billy Exiner (1910-1983). Denzil Best (1917-1965). Irv Kluger (1921- ). Jackie Mills (1922- ). J.c. Heard (1917-1988). Rossiere Shadow Wilson (1919-1959) -- 4. The Innovators. Kenny Klook Clarke (1914-1985). Maz Roach (1924- ). Stan Levey (1926- ). Art Blakey (1919-1990). Roy Haynes (1925- ). Shelly Manne (1920-1984). Don Lamond (1921- ). Tiny Kahn (1924-1953) -- 5. Into The 1950s. Philly Joe Jones (1923-1985). Mel Lewis (1929-1990) -- 6. Other Significant Figures. Ed Shaughnessy (1929- ). Art Taylor (1929-1995). Ike Day (1926-??) -- Appendix 1, Drum Rudiments -- Appendix 2, Transcriptions Of Drum Solos. Burt Korall. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [275]-276), Discography (p. [277]-281), And Index. Burt Korall is widely recognized as the most authoritative writer on jazz drumming. His first book __Drummin' Men--The Heartbeat of Jazz: The Swing Era__ is considered a classic. It was praised by Nat Hentoff as "a book that illuminates not only the pantheon of jazz drummers in classic jazz, but makes clear the very essence of the jazz spirit." Now, in this exciting sequel, Korall offers a richly informative history of drumming in the Bebop era. Bebop--hard driving, discordant, melodically unconventional--introduced new sounds and innovative rhythms that changed the face of jazz. Korall looks at this music through the eyes of the musicians themselves, covering a whole range of important jazz drummers, but focusing upon the most original and significant--principally Kenny Clarke, Max Roach, and Art Blakey. Korall provides a knowledgeable background about the history of bebop--and the unfortunate and almost universal heroin addiction that swept through the jazz world in the wake of Charlie Parker's habit. The book contains Korall's own memoir of nearly 50 years in the jazz world, linked by his narrative of the careers of these drummers and their place in the bebop jazz scene. But the most remarkable aspect of the book is the oral history that weaves together the stories of the drummers themselves as well as their friends and contemporaries. This is one of the most readable jazz histories in recent years, as well as one of the most authoritative and significant. It takes readers inside the heads of the men who drove the beat, to convey the excitement and originality of the bebop era

In the 1930s swing music was everywhere—on radio, recordings, and in the great ballrooms, hotels, theatres, and clubs. Perhaps at no other time were drummers more central to the sound and spirit of jazz. Benny Goodman showcased Gene Krupa. Jimmy Dorsey featured Ray McKinley. Artie Shaw helped make Buddy Rich a star while Count Basie riffed with the innovative Jo Jones. Drummers were at the core of this music; as Jo Jones said, The drummer is the key—the heartbeat of jazz.
An oral history told by the drummers, other musicians, and industry figures, Drummin' Men is also Burt Korall's memoir of more than fifty years in jazz. Personal and moving, the book is a celebration of the music of the time and the men who made it. Meet Chick Webb, small, fragile-looking, a hunchback from childhood, whose explosive drumming style thrilled and amazed; Gene Krupa, the great showman and pacemaker; Ray McKinley, whose rhythmic charm, light touch, and musical approach provided a great example for countless others, and the many more that populate this story.
Based on interviews with a collection of the most important jazzmen, Drummin' Men offers an inside view of the swing years that cannot be found anywhere else.

Booknews

Biographies of the swing drummers, including such greats as Chick Webb, Gene Krupa, Jo Jones, Sid Catlett, and Buddy Rich. Korall's text, interviews with the drummers, quotes from their contemporaries, and b&w photos tell the stories of these legendary musicians. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

"An oral history told by the drummers, other musicians and industry figures, Drummin' Men is also Burt Korall's memoir of more than fifty years in jazz. Personal and moving, the book is a celebration of the music of the time and the men who made it. Meet Chick Webb, small, fragile-looking, a hunchback from childhood, whose explosive drumming style thrilled and amazed; Gene Krupa, the great showman and pacemaker; Ray McKinley, whose rhythmic charm, light touch, and musical approach provided a great example for countless others, and the many more that populate this story." "Based on interviews with a collection of the most important jazzmen, Drummin' Men offers an inside view of the swing years that cannot be found anywhere else."--P. [4] of cover Content: Chick Webb (1907-1939) -- Gene Krupa (1909-1973) -- Ray McKinley (1910- ) -- Jo Jones (1911-1985) -- Sid Catlett (1910-1951) -- Dave Tough (1908-1948) -- Buddy Rich (1917-1987) -- Sonny Greer (1903-1982) -- George Wettling (1907-1968) -- Cozy Cole (1909-1981) -- Jimmy Crawford (1910-1980) -- O'Neil Spencer (1909-1944) -- Cliff Leeman (1913-1986) -- Ray Bauduc (1906-1988) -- Epilogue: Into the 1940s. In the 1930s, swing music was everywhere - on the radio, in the great hotel ballrooms, at the theatre, and in the clubs. Perhaps at no other time were drummers more central to the sound and spirits of jazz - as Jo Jones once said, The drummer is the key - the heartbeat of jazz. Chick Webb, trying out a cymbal at the Avedis Zildjian Company factor in Massachusetts, circa 1938.