Jade Visions: The Life and Music of Scott LaFaro (North Texas Lives of Musician Series)

Winner of the Best Book of 2009, Jazz Division, sponsored by AllAboutJazz-New York, 2009. Selected for "The Best of the Best" from University Presses, ALA Conference, 2010. Winner of the 2010 Association for Recorded Sound Collections Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research in Jazz, 2010. __Jade Visions__ is the first biography of one of the twentieth century's most influential jazz musicians, bassist Scott LaFaro. Best known for his landmark recordings with Bill Evans, LaFaro played bass a mere seven years before his life and career were tragically cut short by an automobile accident when he was only 25 years old. Told by his sister, this book uniquely combines family history with insight into LaFaro's music by well-known jazz experts and musicians Gene Lees, Don Thompson, Jeff Campbell, Phil Palombi, Chuck Ralston, Barrie Kolstein, and Robert Wooley. Those interested in Bill Evans, the history of jazz, and the lives of working musicians of the time will appreciate this exploration of LaFaro’s life and music as well as the feeling they’ve been invited into the family circle as an intimate. Contents 8 Illustrations 10 Foreword 12 Preface 16 Acknowledgments 18 Introduction 22 Prologue 31 Chapter 1 • La Famiglia 33 Chapter 2 • Geneva: The Early Years 37 Chapter 3 • Early Influences 47 Chapter 4 • High School Days 55 Chapter 5 • Beginning Bass to Buddy and Baker 71 Chapter 6 • Transposition 1957 89 Chapter 7 • Working the West Coast 1958 107 Chapter 8 • Kenton, Goodman, and Monk 1959 123 Chapter 9 • New York: Getz, Coleman, and Evans 1960 141 Chapter 10 • Realization 1961 161 Chapter 11 • Last Days 177 Chapter 12 • Aftermath 181 Chapter 13 • His Music I 185 Chapter 14 • His Music II 205 Chapter 15 • His Music III 231 Chapter 16 • His Legacy 241 Appendix I • Remembering Scott LaFaro 255 Appendix II • When Sam Met Scotty 261 Appendix III • Prescott Restoration: The LaFaro Legacy 265 Scott LaFaro Discography 279 Endnotes 321 Bibliography 329 Index 345 Introduction: Young Mr. Lafaro / Gene Lees -- La Famiglia -- Geneva: The Early Years -- Early Influences -- High School Days -- Beginning Bass To Buddy And Baker -- Transposition (1957) -- Working The West Coast (1958) -- Kenton, Goodman, And Monk (1959) -- New York: Getz, Coleman, And Evans (1960) -- Realization (1961) -- Last Days -- Aftermath -- His Music / Jeff Campbell, Phil Palombi -- Remembering Scott Lafaro / Bob Wooley -- When Sam Met Scotty: A Remembrance Of Scott Lafaro -- Prescott Restoration: The Lafaro Legacy / Barrie Kolstein. Helene Lafaro-fernández ; With Chuck Ralston, Jeff Campbell And Phil Palombi ; Foreword By Don Thompson ; Introduction By Gene Lees. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Includes Discography. Introduction / Gene Lees La famiglia Geneva: the early years Early influences High school days From beginning bass to Buddy and Baker Transposition Working the West Coast Kenton, Goodman, Monk New York: Getz, Coleman and Evans Realization Last days Aftermath His music / Jeff Campbell, Phil Palombi Remembering Scott LaFaro / Bob Wooley When Sam met Scotty: a remembrance of Scott LaFaro Prescott restoration The LaFaro legacy / Barrie Kolstein. Presents the biography of Scott LaFaro, one of twentieth century's most influential jazz musicians, and bassist.