Customer Reviews

A Life in Jazz

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This book is like having a conversation with Danny Barker. You are there, being guided through four generations of New Orleans musicians, reliving detailed moments in jazz history. His words invoke vibrant images of the jazz funerals, brass bands, the french quarter. He offers a "chronological discography" in the back of the book. It encompasses 1931-1975 and is an amazing compilation of recordings and artists. If only Ken Burns had consulted and included Danny Barker and highlighted some of his performances, his "Jazz" documentary would be what this book is - a treasure.

I think this book would be hard to read for someone not quite knowledgeable about Jazz in New Orleans, and Jazz in the Swing era. I know who Luis Russell was, and what his band signified, what it sounded like, and have seen it playing as Louis Armstrong's back up. However, if you haven't you might not know what this book talks about.

Barker writes about his own personal experiences and some of the atmospheres that Jazz functioned in during his life. He says very little about the actual music he plays. He only mentions at some point in the 1960s that he stopped banjo playing in 1930 when his banjo was stolen and apparently played guitar exclusively.

He gives more a picture of the atmosphere, rough and tumble, sometimes cheating ways musicians were treated by bar owners, band leaders, and each others. He also explains a lot about a number of personalities that he meets. I was quite interested in the little pieces of pictures that he gives of Jelly Roll Morton who didnt eactly receive the best treatment from other jazz writers and jazz musicians.

Like so many books by men who became famous and successful, Barker's book is most interesting in the beginning of the book that discusses his life before he becomes a known Jazz musician. He picture of growing up in the rough and tumble of New Orleans at the turn of the century is preciseless. If the boyhood memories were all this book had and Danny Barker had given up music to become a garbage man or a school teacher, this would still be a wonderful book.

He gives a real good picture of both the rough and tumble and society places musicians struggled to play in New Orleans. He gives a good picture of how the funerals and funeral bands really worked. He talks about the families of musicians and in an honest way about the frictions between Creole and Black musicians.

What wins in this book is the voice of Danny Barker. It is real, visceral, honest, doesn't pull punches, and is not shy to say what he thinks even when he's obviously factually wrong.

This is a book for someone who loves and knows Jazz. This is a book for someone who loves and knows African American life.