Posts filed under 'Books'
After spending most of his life in NYC, NY Times Magazine writer Rob Walker found himself living in New Orleans with his girlfriend for a few years (2000-2003). The experience changed his life and provided for plenty of great journal entries and emails, many of which have been collected into a wonderful little chapbook called Letters from New Orleans. The entries range from funny to sad to thought-provoking; but they all provide for nice little snapshots of life in the pre-hurricane ravaged New Orleans. Though Walker returned to his East Coast life, he obviously holds the Crescent City close to his heart. He’s even started a blog called No Notes, which is dedicated to–among other things–”St. James Infirmary” and the song’s history, side stories, tangents, covers and references in literature. Since today was the start of Mardi Gras, why not spend an hour glimpsing through Walker’s vast “St. James” notes; you’ll undoubtedly learn a lot. We know we did! –JV
February 18th, 2006
When I used to work at a music store, we would buy The Real Book, the most popular fake book of jazz tunes, from the trunk of a guy’s car for cash. Here’s an interesting article about the history of fake books that explains why that transaction had to be so shady. Oh, and it looks like The Real Book has gone legit.-MJS
February 12th, 2006
Mark Brend has written a wonderful book called Strange Sounds, which is devoted to some of the more peculiar instruments that have been used in popular music over the years. Along with things like Theremins, stylophones, Ondes-Martenots, ocarinas and clavolines, Mark writes about ukelins and Marxophones. Which is where I come in. The book includes a CD of recordings of almost all of the instruments Mark writes about, and I was the guy who played the ukelin and the Marxophone clips. Despite that, you really should get the book and learn how bands like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Doors, Radiohead, the Beach Boys and even the Osmonds made some of their trippier records. -MJS
January 29th, 2006
Some of you may know that I wrote a book about Taylor Guitars and that I co-wrote a book about acoustic guitars with Teja Gerken, Richard Johnston and Frank Ford. Now, after reading this, all of you know it. Anyway, here they are on display at NAMM. -MJS
January 23rd, 2006
Michael Horowitz is a writer, musician and all around good guy who has written a number of excellent books on learning to play Gypsy jazz. They say in Europe that when it comes to learning to play Gypsy jazz guitar, the first 30 years are the hardest. Michael’s books are so good, though, that if you study them carefully, you can cut that time in half. You can buy his books, as well as loads of great imported CDs at his site Djangobooks.com. He also has a page of free video clips of some of the finest Gypsy players, including Stochelo Rosenberg, Biréli Lagrène, Raphael Fays, Dorado Schmitt and the few rare clips of Django himself. -MJS
January 17th, 2006
Next Posts
After spending most of his life in NYC, NY Times Magazine writer Rob Walker found himself living in New Orleans with his girlfriend for a few years (2000-2003). The experience changed his life and provided for plenty of great journal entries and emails, many of which have been collected into a wonderful little chapbook called Letters from New Orleans. The entries range from funny to sad to thought-provoking; but they all provide for nice little snapshots of life in the pre-hurricane ravaged New Orleans. Though Walker returned to his East Coast life, he obviously holds the Crescent City close to his heart. He’s even started a blog called No Notes, which is dedicated to–among other things–”St. James Infirmary” and the song’s history, side stories, tangents, covers and references in literature. Since today was the start of Mardi Gras, why not spend an hour glimpsing through Walker’s vast “St. James” notes; you’ll undoubtedly learn a lot. We know we did! –JV
