Customer Reviews

Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Billy Strayhorn's contribution to the work of Duke Ellington is immeasurable--at last he is given his full due in David Hajdu's perceptive and insightful portrait of this largely unsung genius of 20th century music. Hajdu's sensitive biography, derived from countless interviews with friends, family and fellow musicians, reveals Strayhorn as a complex, creative individual who preferred to stay discreetly in Ellington's shadow throughout much of his life. It also provides a telling portrait of a man who lived his life as a gay African-American musician completely out in the open during a time in this country when it was both difficult and dangerous to do so. Hajdu has given us telling portraits as well of many of Strayhorn's contemporaries such as Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Hodges, Ray Nance and the Duke himself who loved "Swea-Pea" (Strayhorn's nickname) as a part of himself. Not only a portrait of a creative, intellectual genius, "Lush Life" also gives us an insightful look into the world of jazz and African-american popular music that grew out of an age of racism and discrimination. The concluding chapters that chronicle Strayhorn's involvement in the civil rights movement of the early '60's and his friendships with Martin Luther King and Medgar Evans and his own battle with the throat cancer that cut his life short (at age fifty-one) are especially powerful. Throughout the book, Hajdu provides lively anecdotal writing while remaining a respectful journalist and chronicler of his subject. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in jazz history, popular culture, or purely for a portrait of an understated genius.

This was an excellent read and it was great to see that somebody finally came out with a biography on Billy Strayhorn. So why the 3 star rating? Well, the author actually attempts to overemphasize Staryhorn's importance to the Ellington band (hard as that is to do).

The author unfortunately tries to paint a picture of Ellington as somebody that didn't appreciate Strayhorn's talent and put his name on Stayhorn's songs and basically didn't do much at all after the arrival of Strayhorn. This, of course, is a complete crock. Ellington wrote the vast majority of his most well known songs before Strayhorn even came into the picture ("Mood Indigo", "Sophisticated Lady", "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing", "Rockin' In Rhythm", In A Sentimental Mood", and "Solitude" just to name a few). Are we really supposed to believe that all of a sudden Strayhorn comes and Ellington's compositional skills go down the drain and he relies on Strayhorn for everything thereafter? That's a little too much (actually way too much) to believe.

Also, if Strayhorn was truly all the brains behind the post-1940 Ellington band, then how come Ellington was still writing great works after Strayhorn's death (New Orleans Suite anyone?)? It just doesn't add up.

Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn were one of the greatest song writing teams of all time. Both were equally important players to the other's success after they joined together and each made his significant contributions. The author is probably a big Strayhorn fan and to make up for the lack of recognition that Strayhorn has received the author actually does a disservice to Strayhorn by overstating his importance to the Ellington band. Strayhorn accomplished so much it's just not necessary to do so.

That being said, the book is still a great source for learning about the life of Billy Strayhorn and who he was and it's great that somebody finally wrote a book on his life.

This book has a lot going for it. Do you like music, swing and jazz? Do you like intersting people? Did you live through the 30's, 40's and 50's? Do you enjoy reading about that era? Do you enjoy reading a well written biogratphy? If the answer to any of these is yes, you'll like this book, it the answer is yes to several of these questions then you'll LOVE this book. David Hajdu has done an exemplary job of documenting the life of Billy Strayhorn. I really felt like I knew the man after reading this. He has done his research and he also writes with a very smooth style that keeps you intersted. I love music and I've read bios of Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, BB King, Chuck Berry, Led Zepplin, Allman Bros. on and on. This is one of the best if not the best music bio I've read.

Hajdu really does a nice job of summarizing the life of a songwriter. He keeps his story moving with pacing, characters, travel, and yes, even drama! Racial prejudice, sexual prejudice, loneliness and alcoholism did nothing to stop this little man from Pittsburgh who knew he was destined to a "lush life" and wrote about it in his fantasies, such as the title song begun at age 19 in Pittsburgh.

He grew up poor, effeminate, and misunderstood; but he loved the theater, and he knew where he belonged. Off to New York where his awesome talent so impressed Duke Ellington that he was immediately hired into the organization, where he would thrive and struggle and live and write for the rest of his life. He died of cancer, after penning and arranging much of Ellington's later work.

The book tells his story with panache that would make him proud!

David Hajdu has creatd a wonderful evocation of an era throughthe life of Billy Strayhorn. While firmly grounded in Strayhorn theman, musician, and bon vivant, Hajdy's writing expands the scope to include the dynamics of 20th century jazz evolutions and permutations, interweaving the greats and would-be greats with variations of musical, historical, and psychological themes. Through the expert use of lyrics and techical counterpoints, the author brings to life a maturing process which addresses both the man Strayhorn and the full array of personal, professional, and cultural tensions that span several lifetimes. This is not a difficult book. It is primarily a serious journey of exploration which softens overtures to the artist with recognition of his -- and the age's -- limitations. Hajdu's treatment of Duke Ellington is unfaiiingly dimensional. While Strayhorn is effectively given his due, Ellington loses little in this translation. If anything, the secondary theme of Ellington's balancing of immense ego and generosity suggests a world made safer -- for Billy Strayhorn -- by one's man's dominating presence. The definition of genius is expanded to include the contributions of both men. Ellington's final appearance is handled without pathos, an exceptional achievement in itself. Most lives do not follow a straight path or step-wise progression. Billy Strayhorn's is no exception. People and places appear and reappear as Strayhorn's circle of experience widesn. Some, like Aaron Bridgers ensconced in a Paris cafe, remain as touchstones to a past that's still alive and valuable. Art Webster and Johnny Hodges grow -- one imagines in talent as well as importance -- along with Billy and the times. Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Rosemary Clooney appear, if only to offer convincing testimony to Strayhorn's unique ability to prove that the sum of artist plus music is greater than it's parts. Hajdu's is a balanced yet lyrical telling of a personal history in the broader reaching context of human and social values. One need not be well versed in the music of the Ellingtonians to appreciate this book. However, it may be the ulimate compliment to the authro that in the course of reading, I purchased not one but several, progressively dated recordings of Ellington/Strayhorn collaborations. The book, as Strayhorn's lyrics, begs for accompaniment.

one of the most interesting biographies I've ever read. When Billy Strayhorn was growing up in Pittsburgh he met Duke Ellington in the back of the theatre after a concert Duke performed at. He blew Duke away when Billy played the piano for him. Years later Duke would remember him and asked Billy to come out to NYC to see him. When Billy asked for directions Duke would write on a piece of paper, take the A train. While on the A train to Upper Manhattan to see Duke, Billy wrote the music for 'Take the A Train". So it goes the great collaboration between Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn would begin. Always in the background and never given the proper credit for all the music he wrote Billy Strayhorn would live a lush life. Travelling the world and meeting the kings and queens of the jazz world, he could be the life of the party but the applause for Duke Ellington's music would bypass him. Being black and gay back in those days was not acceptable behavior so Billy stayed in the background and Duke kept him. Billy wrote the music and Duke played it, his own personal muse. Billy loved the 3 am hour the best, it was the happiest hour of the day when you're too exhausted to care anymore and numb to everything else. A wonderful book.

The pure artistic genius of Billy Strayhorn literally jumps off the pages of David Hajdu's well-written biograqphy. Even those who knew and loved Strayhorn's music discover he was a composer of rare gifts, an artist so keenly sensitive to his surroundings that he could write to evoke the best of the individual stylings of his musical colleagues. This totally enjoyable narrative makes one wonder just how much of the work bearing Duke Ellington's name was actually composed by Strayhorn. Of course, we'll never know. But we can sit back and Take The A Train.

This is a beautifully written book. I was transported to the time and place so much that I found myself crying when he died. I traveled throughout the country with my father, a jazz musician, during that time. This book does an excellent job of recreating the people, places, and energy of that time.

If you're a jazz enthusiast, you'll really enjoy this window into a world you love. If you know nothing of jazz, you'll enjoy a well written book about a fascinating person.

i find myself always enjoying Books on People&this is no exception.very well detailed Book on a Important Composer&His Many Demons&Surroundings.I heard a few years back that Will Smith was considering doing the Bio Movie on Billy Strayhorn.it would be really interesting to see how things would come out on the Big screen.this book reflects on Music Talent&whole Life.very well done book.

Great Book... if you're an Ellington fan and like "Strays" music this is an absolute must. Very informative and interesting and also great reading. The author was here in Seattle for an Elllngton concert with Earshot Jazz and I met and chatted with him.... a very charming and informed man. cmm