Customer Reviews

Jazz and Death: Medical Profiles of Jazz Greats (American Made Music)

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... Dr. Spencer, who is no spring chicken, really knows his jazz. His book is part biography, part history, part sociology; it is also an excellent primer on pathology for non-medical people. His book is spiced with glimpses into the lifestyles of jazz greats. There's even a bit of ... humor here and there. Dr. Spencer has real affection for these haunted geniuses, and he shows us why early death was epidemic in their world.

This is an excellent reference work which should be on the shelf of most serious jazz collectors and anyone who writes about jazz or does discographical work in this field. Dr. Spencer very clearly explains numerous medical conditions and provides death certificates and other pertinent illustrations. He also clears up a number of mistakes/misunderstandings which have appeared in the literature. The references are annoying (the superscripts are tiny for my ancient eyes) and you must look in the back of the book to find the reference. The illustrations could have been sharper. Lastly, I understand that Dr. Spencer submitted a 660 page manuscript and only then was told that 300 pages was the goal. Thus, a great deal has been cut. He did a remarkable job but no doubt a lot of information got left on the cutting room floor!

As I read more and more about old jazzmen, it is striking just how many died early or unnecessary deaths. "Jazz and Death"
fills an unusual and worthwhile niche.

The only complaint I have is that Dr. Spencer tends to editorialize at length on the justifications for marijuana laws, etc. Not that I don't agree completely. He also (in the introduction -and- the conclusion) draws attention to the very tenuous links between the history of jazz and the history of medicine.

A wonderful and engrossing read.

Please, Mr. Spencer, considering the research you must have put into this book, you could at least spell Thelonious Monk's name correctly. You used "Thelonius" throughout the book, so it wasn't just a typo. Or maybe, your Editor was to blame?