<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: A well researched and well written biography.
Review: "Groovin' High" contains a truly impressive amount ofresearch, and Alyn Shipton's trenchant take on Gillespie's life andmusic delves into the trumpeter's darker side, too. The sheer amountof musical detail, though it probably will appeal to some, is the only reason "Groovin' High" doesn't deserve a full five stars.Jazz neophytes beware: the author goes WAY over the top in his song-by-song, recording-by-recording dissections. "Groovin' High" descends into Obsessive Record Collector Hell during some of Shipton's longer asides about the quality of certain recordings; many veteran jazzbos and PhD candidates will revel in the detail, but for the majority of us, it's overwhelming. Ride out the scrutiny of Dizzy's compositions and solos, though, and you'll be rewarded. Shipton is a fine writer and a truly amazing researcher.
Rating:
Summary: A well researched and well written biography.
Review: "Groovin' High" contains a truly impressive amount ofresearch, and Alyn Shipton's trenchant take on Gillespie's life andmusic delves into the trumpeter's darker side, too. The sheer amountof musical detail, though it probably will appeal to some, is the only reason "Groovin' High" doesn't deserve a full five stars. Jazz neophytes beware: the author goes WAY over the top in his song-by-song, recording-by-recording dissections. "Groovin' High" descends into Obsessive Record Collector Hell during some of Shipton's longer asides about the quality of certain recordings; many veteran jazzbos and PhD candidates will revel in the detail, but for the majority of us, it's overwhelming. Ride out the scrutiny of Dizzy's compositions and solos, though, and you'll be rewarded. Shipton is a fine writer and a truly amazing researcher.
Rating: 
Summary: STEER CLEAR unless you are a jazz musician.
Review: I am a voracious reader of jazz biographies. The fact that the name of this book includes the phrase "The Life of Dizzy Gillespie" is a shame, or sham. There is so little of his life in this book and so much discecting of every note of every solo that he ever played. It's maddening! If you're looking for a great jazz biography that is full of color, try the Louis Armstrong "An Extravagent Life" book. I read this approx. 600 page book twice just because it is such a colorful story about a jazz musicians LIFE. I will finish off by saying that this book is only the second one in my life that I had to stop reading because it was so BAD. That was after 250 pages.
Rating:
Summary: STEER CLEAR unless you are a jazz musician.
Review: I am a voracious reader of jazz biographies. The fact that the name of this book includes the phrase "The Life of Dizzy Gillespie" is a shame, or sham. There is so little of his life in this book and so much discecting of every note of every solo that he ever played. It's maddening! If you're looking for a great jazz biography that is full of color, try the Louis Armstrong "An Extravagent Life" book. I read this approx. 600 page book twice just because it is such a colorful story about a jazz musicians LIFE. I will finish off by saying that this book is only the second one in my life that I had to stop reading because it was so BAD. That was after 250 pages.
Rating: 
Summary: Highly readable, painstakingly researched, bio of jazz giant
Review: It was quite interesting to read about the life Gillespie had outside of what most people knew about, i.e. his daughter Jeanie Bryson. I commend Shipton for having the courage to discuss such a touchy subject. He attempts to strike a balance between Dizzy's private and professional life. Two thumbs up!!
Rating:
Summary: Highly readable, painstakingly researched bio of jazz giant
Review: Shipton's biography of Gillespie is the first to reveal that the famously married Dizzy had a child out of wedlock. Rather than make this titillating tidbit the focus of his book, Shipton chose to keep the focus on the man and his music, where it belongs. A fine book about a wonderful man.
Rating:
Summary: Highly readable, painstakingly researched bio of jazz giant
Review: Shipton's book is the first to reveal the relationship with Connie Bryson and the existence of their daughter, singer Jeanie Bryson. He handles this bombshell with delicacy and restraint. If the Kirkus reviewer felt that this wonderful biography "disappoints", we loved it!
<< 1 >>
| 
