Customer Reviews

Big band jazz

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the first and only book I've ever seen that covers the development of Big Band Jazz, including the multitude of early Territory Bands. McCarthy's efforts to chronicle the regional orchestras that roamed the U.S. during the 20's, 3o's and 40's is monumental in scope. The author's writing style is a good deal more dry than Big Band guru George T. Simon, but that does not diminish the value of this book to somebody who really wants to understand the Big Band Era from its grass roots. When I listen to recordings from various Territory Bands I am constantly pulling my well-worn copy of McCarthy's masterpiece off my shelf. It is a great contextual tool for the serious Big Band fan. Hopefully, some publisher will decide to re-print it. My copy is almost worn out.

Scholarly and biased look at Big Band Jazz focusing mainly on the Negro Jazz bands of the period. Tedious read that focuses too much on band personnel and changes. Book not only describes the primary bands of the time but also the many territory bands that never recorded discs. The book is a bit unbalanced and biased as white bands are often derided and given shortshrift for their contributions to the genre-the white bands do receive a chapter though.
Book would have been better served if it would describe in detail more of the Negro bands trial and tribulations touring in the South and providing more antedotes of the period in terms of how recordings were made and the atmosphere and stories of various nightclubs-speakeasies of which most were owned by gangsters.