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Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother - Ms. Gourse certainly didn't!
Review: Despite the fact that I have consistently disliked Leslie Gourse's writing in her books, magazine articles, and liner notes, I looked forward to reading this book. I thought I could wade through the the junior high level prose and perhaps glean some information about my favorite jazz singer. Alas, I was wrong. There are many obvious inaccuracies in the short text. Names and places are misspelled, dates are wrong, and stories contradict each other. The discography that rounds out the slim book is woefully incomplete and poorly researched (Ms Gourse refers to Carmen recording for the Official label in 1959. In fact, Official is a reissue label that packaged Carmen's Decca, Kapp and Mercury singles on CD in the early 90s). What really bothers me is that Leslie Gourse does not appear to have taken the time to figure out what made Carmen McRae a great artist. If she had actually found and listened to Carmen's records, she would know the difference between "The Great American Songbook" and "Live At The Great American Music Hall" (album titles that she seems to use interchangeably). Instead what we get are story after poorly-written story about what a difficult person Carmen was, and conjectures about her sexual preferences. If you're looking for a good book about a great singer, try Stuart Nicholson's Ella Fitzgerald bio. "Miss Jazz" isn't worth your time. I just hope someone else is incensed enough by Leslie Gourse's handling of this subject to write another, better book about Carmen McRae. She's an amazing singer with an interesting story. Too bad you won't find it here.
Rating:
Summary: Don't bother - Ms. Gourse certainly didn't!
Review: Despite the fact that I have consistently disliked Leslie Gourse's writing in her books, magazine articles, and liner notes, I looked forward to reading this book. I thought I could wade through the the junior high level prose and perhaps glean some information about my favorite jazz singer. Alas, I was wrong. There are many obvious inaccuracies in the short text. Names and places are misspelled, dates are wrong, and stories contradict each other. The discography that rounds out the slim book is woefully incomplete and poorly researched (Ms Gourse refers to Carmen recording for the Official label in 1959. In fact, Official is a reissue label that packaged Carmen's Decca, Kapp and Mercury singles on CD in the early 90s). What really bothers me is that Leslie Gourse does not appear to have taken the time to figure out what made Carmen McRae a great artist. If she had actually found and listened to Carmen's records, she would know the difference between "The Great American Songbook" and "Live At The Great American Music Hall" (album titles that she seems to use interchangeably). Instead what we get are story after poorly-written story about what a difficult person Carmen was, and conjectures about her sexual preferences. If you're looking for a good book about a great singer, try Stuart Nicholson's Ella Fitzgerald bio. "Miss Jazz" isn't worth your time. I just hope someone else is incensed enough by Leslie Gourse's handling of this subject to write another, better book about Carmen McRae. She's an amazing singer with an interesting story. Too bad you won't find it here.
Rating: 
Summary: If you liked Ken Burns' Jazz...
Review: I think it's wonderful that there are books such as Ms. Gourse's out there on the market. Although I was surprised not to see her as one of the jazz experts enlisted in the making of the PBS documentary "Ken Burns' Jazz", I think her books are a natural complement to that series. Many young children may be interested in reading about Jazz or learning more about this music and, given the state of public education, these may be the types of books that school librarians might order. In addition to this book on Ms. McRae (so unfortunate that she passed away and couldn't comment on the book), there are many others (many, many others) by Ms. Gourse to which a young reader may turn in the hopes of finding out more about great artists. There's one on Nat King Cole, one on Ella Fitzgerald, one on Aretha Franklin, one on Mahalia Jackson, one on Gloria Estefan, one on Jim Henson (of Muppets fame), and even one on Pocahontas. These books might have served as excellent introductions. They are written in a literary style that is accessible to jr. high students. And rather than focusing on bare bone facts, Ms. Gourse likes to look for skeletons in the closet (wouldn't have known, had it not been for this book, that Carmen and Billie Holiday were lovers, even though Carmen was also having an affair with Joe Louis...) Kids don't necessarily have the patience for academic research, or tedious issues like subtext or context or deconstruction. They won't find any here. Instead of trying to find a deeper meaning in the lives of her subjects, Ms. Gourse allows them to speak through newspaper clippings, re-published excerpts from interviews granted to other authors, discographies, etc. Ms. Gourse's books do what the best scholastic literature aimed at jr. high students is supposed to do: make you want to read other books.
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: I've always loved Carmen's music and have felt she was one of the most influential singers on the jazz scene. This book is ok if you want a somewhat boring chronological history of her recording sessions with some newspaper reviews thrown in. But I was extremely dissapointed in not getting a real insight as to who Carmen was as a person and what made her tick. I also felt that some of the statements made by her associates seemed to be presented in a jaded fashion. I also believe the author made more of the singer's marijuana use and sexual orientation than was warranted. It wasn't easy then and it isn't easy now being a woman in the music business. Book = Big disapointment.
Rating:
Summary: Recommended for jazz music fans
Review: Leslie Gourse's Carmen Mcrae, Miss Jazz tells of the life of a jazz singer who grew up during the swing era in Harlem to make her mark on the music world at the ripe 'old' age of 34. This is based on interviews conducted by McRae before her death as well as added insights by her friends, family and fellow musicians. Recommended for jazz music fans.
Rating:
Summary: Very Sad
Review: Ms. Gourse's biography does not, in my opinion, do justice to this legandary jazz artist. I was hoping for some improvement over her biography on Sarah Vaughan, however, my opinion is that Ms. Gourse's Carmen McRae bio takes her down a few more notches as a biographer/writer. I almost got the feeling that it was slapped together quickly due to publishing deadlines or a general lack of interest in the subject.
Rating:
Summary: Error-filled, poorly written
Review: Poorly researched, poorly written, with no real insight into the life of Ms. McRae. Avoid.
Rating:
Summary: Utterly Shameful Review, Careless !
Review: The author L. Gourse was shameful, utterly careless in her dealing and research of the gem that is Carmen! What demons dwelled in residence within this author that she should have chosen so wretched a photograph to depict the jewel that was Carmen? Her depiction of the "Gem" Carmen was ghastly, not to mention downright hasty, shameful. I hope she will know that when her turn comes, the same carelessness will accompany any rememberances of her as a 'so-called' biographer. Startling details and conclusions were boldly brought forth, but sadly, it fizzes away with lack of evidence or any weighty proofs. Shameful is all I say and careless trivialities concerning her subject, for "subject" is all that our jewel Carmen was to this author, not merely a human being. Carmen deserves better! Carol "chickadee coralreef amaryillis" Ann
Rating:
Summary: Needs knowledge of subject
Review: The woman cannot spell, but not only does she have great trouble with the language, she seems clueless when it comes to her subject. She has assembled numerous books, none of any substance, and this alleged biography of Carmen McRae is so full of factual errors that it is almost laughable.
Rating: 
Summary: Typical Leslie Gourse Book
Review: What a missed opportunity! There are not many books written about wonderful Carmen Mc Rae and Gourse could finally writte something interesting about this underrated singer but unfortunately Gourse know only how to collect previously published articles and squeeze them together as "book" - I read most of her "books" and its always the same dry story,wonder why she never uses her own talent (if she have any,her book "Louis' Children is the only one interesting - but then,its collection of short profiles written as a journalism,so perhaps thats what Gourse knows how to do) to make her writting a bit more substantial,a bit more than just a articles-collection.I imagine Gourse to spend evenings at library where those articles can be collected and then just splash them together carelessly in some sort of chronological order - who cares for recording dates when at the end nothing was really said about Carmen Mc Rae? I love Mc Rae dearly and feel her sensitivity behind those defensive walls she built around her,what a shame Gourse did her usual quick job and did not used the opportunity for some insight into life of this enigmatic woman! The only good thing about this book is that all the previously published informations about Mc Rae are collected here in one thin volume,hopefully somebody will came along to writte more researched and detailed biography! And the picture on the cover is SO ugly - with Mc Rae glamourous looks and so many other,better photos inside of the book I wonder why was this unflattering picture choosen for a cover?
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