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American Singers
 
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American Singers [Hardcover]

Whitney Balliett (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)


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Book Description

March 15, 1979
In the universally acclaimed American Musicians, America's foremost jazz critic gathered together fifty-six of his jazz profiles written for The New Yorker. Now, in this expanded edition of American Singers, Whitney Balliett offers the perfect complement to American Musicians. This edition contains thirteen new biographical profiles to double the size of the original volume published ten years ago.
Alongside original chapters on such great vocalists as Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Joe Turner, and Alberta Hunter, American Singers now includes fresh portraits of Mel Torm�, Julius La Rosa, George Shearing, and Peggy Lee. Balliett has also rounded out his study of the masters of the cabaret to include Julie Wilson, and has extended his profile of America's great songwriter and composer, Alec Wilder.
In the three decades that Whitney Balliett has written for The New Yorker, critics and the general public have widely praised his writing. The late Philip Larkin described him as a "writer who brings jazz journalism to the verge of poetry," and Gene Lees called him "one of the most graceful essayists in the English language on any subject." American Singers beautifully illustrates that unmatched style.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The original, now out of print edition of American Singers reprinted biographical studies of 12 American "non-academic" vocalists from the New Yorker , for which Balliett has been jazz critic since 1957. Now double the size of its 1979 edition, the book contains new chapters on Julius La Rosa, Peggy Lee, George Shearing and Mel Torme, cabaret singer Julie Wilson, singer-pianists Cleo Brown and Nellie Lutcher, Betty Carter ("her onstage presence . . . is sound made three-dimensional"), Carol Sloane ("conversation put to music") and songwriter-pianist-singer David Frishberg ("good lyrics come up to the edge of poetry and turn left"). One of the best interviewers in the field, Balliett peppers his articles with long, revealing quotations. Perhaps the most satisfying section here is the opening chapter, about songwriter-composer-lyricist Alec Wilder ("president of the derriere-garde"), whose funny, philosophic, hyperbolic attitudes on death, privacy and money, abhorrence of possessions, disregard for the recorded past and dislike of hirsute appendages are highlights of this delightful book.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

"Whitney Balliett is, without a rival in sight, the most literate and knowledgeable living writer on jazz." -Alistair Cooke --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 108 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 2nd Pntg. edition (March 15, 1979)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0195025245
  • ISBN-13: 978-0195025248
  • Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,260,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written, November 7, 2000
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For the lover of American song and its interpreters, this superb volume is well worth hunting out. Balliett writes in a wonderfully poetic style that fully encapsulates the style and sound of each artist. The range of singers he explores is superb - those who love the art of cabaret will relish his stunning chapters on Mabel Mercer, Bobby Short, Julie Wilson; he also devotes space to such fine interpreters as Carol Sloane, Teddi King and Margaret Whiting. Balliett includes conversations with the singers alongside his own unique analysis and commentary. All in all, a completely indispensable book, the finest exploration of the art of singer popular song available.
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