Benny Carter : A Life in American Music (Studies in Jazz, 2 Volume Set) [Hardcover]

Morroe Berger (Author), Edward Berger (Author), James Patrick (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0810841118 | ISBN-13: 978-0810841116 | Publication Date: September 2002 | Edition: Second Edition

This extraordinary two-volume work was hailed as a milestone of jazz literature when it was originally published in 1982. Examining both his musical and cultural significance, the authors present the life and career of Benny Carter, one of the most important and versatile figures in jazz. During the past two decades, Carter, in his eighties and nineties, continued to expand his musical realm. In this new edition, Edward Berger has brought the unparalleled Carter saga into the new millennium, adding insider accounts of tours, major concerts, recordings, and other special events. In addition, the new work reveals more of the reticent Carter's complex character and views, gleaned from hundreds of hours of interviews and conversations. The accompanying annotated discography, one of the most comprehensive ever devoted to the work of a single musician, has been thoroughly revised and updated. Dozens of new and previously unpublished photographs have been added.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reviews of previous edition: Meticulously researched and written...has value as a work of cultural history, of musicology, and of biography, and will be useful in both academic and public libraries..... (Reference Books Bulletin )

Reviews of previous edition: This remarkable account of Carter and his times not only offers a full portrait of a gifted, highly valued member of the music community, it fills many gaps in our knowledge about jazz and its world....A great achievement andan impressive contribution to the literature.... (The Black Perspective In Music )

Reviews of previous edition: One of the most impressive biographical works ever seen in the jazz field..... (Down Beat )

Reviews of previous edition: An exemplary work...A true labor of love...A quite vivid image of Carter as a complex, sophisticated, and admirable person is conveyed..... (American Music )

Reviews of the previous edition: Deserves highest praise...these volumes...belong in any library concerned with the development of music in America in the 20th century..... (Choice )

Reviews of the previous edition: Deserves highest praise...these volumes...belong in any library concerned with the development of music in America in the 20th century. (Choice )

Reviews of previous edition: One of the most impressive biographical works ever seen in the jazz field. (Down Beat )

Reviews of previous edition: Meticulously researched and written...has value as a work of cultural history, of musicology, and of biography, and will be useful in both academic and public libraries. (Reference Books Bulletin )

Reviews of previous edition: This remarkable account of Carter and his times not only offers a full portrait of a gifted, highly valued member of the music community, it fills many gaps in our knowledge about jazz and its world....A great achievement and an impressive contribution to the literature. (The Black Perspective In Music )

Reviews of previous edition: An exemplary work...A true labor of love...A quite vivid image of Carter as a complex, sophisticated, and admirable person is conveyed. (American Music )

This labour of love is more than praiseworthy. (Just Jazz )

..magisterial volumes...this is a biographical effort with which no one is likely to find fault...an achievement unequalled in jazz scholarship... (The Mississippi Rag )

Fluent and readable, good on context and social concerns...stunningly comprehensive...Any library worth its salt should have [these volumes]. (Jazz Uk )

In short, the Bergers' work is surely the definitive treatment of Benny Carter, and is itself a piece of the Carter legacy. (Rob Bamberger )

About the Author

Edward Berger, associate director of the Institute of Jazz Studies is coauthor of Reminiscing in Tempo [Scarecrow Press, 1990], and Bassically Speaking: An Oral History of George Duvivier [Scarecrow Press, 1993]. He is also co-editor of the Studies in Jazz series and the Annual Review of Jazz Studies, to which he has contributed many articles and reviews. Since 1981, he has frequently served as road manager for Benny Carter, and has produced and annotated many of Carter's recent recordings, including the Grammy-winning Harlem Renaissance and Elegy in Blue CDs.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1360 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press; Second Edition edition (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810841118
• ISBN-13: 978-0810841116
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 3.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,418,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.