An Unsung Cat [Hardcover]

Safford Chamberlain (Author), Gary Foster (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Studies in Jazz | Publication Date: December 28, 2000

An Unsung Cat explores the life and music of jazz saxophonist, Warne Marsh. Safford Chamberlain follows the artist from his start in youth bands like the Hollywood Canteen Kids and The Teen-Agers through his studies under Lennie Tristano, his brilliant playing of the 1950s, his disappearance from public view in the 1960s, his re-emergence in the 1970s, and his belated recognition in the 1980s as one of the finest tenor players of the post-World War II era. Through interviews with the Marsh family and friends, Chamberlain offers an inside view of Marsh's private life, including his struggles with drug abuse. Detailed analysis of outstanding performances complements the personal story, while an extensively researched discography and photographs reveal the public and private face of this unique performer. In addition to the book, Scarecrow is pleased to offer a companion compact disc, released by Storyville Records. The tracks on the CD provide a representative sampling of Marsh's best work, while providing a historical overview of his development, from the beginning track, 'Apple Honey,' which is a private, low-fidelity tape from an NBC radio broadcast in 1945 of the Hoagy Carmichael Show, to the final track, 'Sweet and Lovely,' captured months before his death in 1987.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Unsung Cat is not only a many-faceted, novelistic biography by a noted jazz journalist and one of Marsh's former sax students, but a heartbreaking mystery that tortures readers with questions as deeply as it satisfies with narrative richness. Who was this jazz cipher, and how did so many of us miss his musical genius?...The publisher has put together a companion CD released by Storyville Records and a book and Cd set for $68.50. That should serve as a good introduction to Marsh's work. (Jazzsteps )

..highly-detailed biography...an interesting story... (Rapport )

...painstakingly researched and gracefully written...A fine volume... (Choice )

...with Chamberlain's discerning comments on the music, the interested reader will easily be able to follow Marsh's musical development...the discography is invaluable for a player like Marsh... (Iajrc Journal )

...remarkable job of cutting through the myth of Warne Marsh and taking a serious, analytical look at his life and his music...Chamberlain's book is one of the finest examples of jazz biography, and worthy of Marsh's legacy in every way. (Allmusic.Com )

Safford Chamberlain...has just given a big boost to Marsh's stock. An Unsung Cat: The Life and Music of Warne Marsh ... is a thorough and objective study of a man Chamberlain calls 'a flawed genius.' Chamberlain's book is important in many respects. Aside from its value as a biography, he provides an informative discography of Marsh's recorded work. An accompanying section of transcribed Marsh solos will prove invaluable to musicians. In addition, Chamberlain has compiled a companion CD of important Marsh recordings. (Pasadena Weekly )

Warne Marsh left a legacy of fine recordings which are thoroughly analyzed by Chamberlain in his compelling and insightful journey into one jazz musician's existence. Safford Chamberlain has compiled a brilliant biography of a very complicated man...This is savvy writing from a man who is in tune with jazz by virtue of being a musician, scholar and a relentless searcher for truth and accuracy. This is the best and most legitimate bio that I have read in years.... (Jazzreview.Com )

Chamberlain studies jazz saxophone for awhile with Marsh (1927-87), but eventually gave it up in favor of his day job teaching literature and writing about jazz. Still the experience inspired him to produce a biography of his teacher. Aside from some exuberant fans, he says, Marsh was considered a very good second-level tenor saxophonist during his career, but attributes his lack of recognition primarily to an outsider temperament that led him to mismanage his own affairs and contribute to his own obscurity. (Reference & Research Book News )

...a detailed picture of this fascinating musician. (European Free Improvisation Bibliography )

About the Author

Safford Chamberlain is a former community college English teacher who studied jazz saxophone with Warne Marsh, among others. He has written on jazz for Downbeat, L.A. Jazz Scene, Los Angeles Free Press, Los Angeles Reader, and The Realist.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 424 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (December 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810837188
• ISBN-13: 978-0810837188
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,103,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Scholarly Appraisal of an Underrated Jazz Genius, January 14, 2001

By 

John Burton (Pasadena, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Unsung Cat (Hardcover)

Safford Chamberlin's love for his subject matter, the jazz solos of the late tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh, comes out on every page of this unusually well researched and well written biography.

Marsh was a child prodigy who fell under the spell of the eccentric jazz recluse Lennie Tristano, the founder and guru of a school of highly disciplined post-bebop jazz in New York City during the late 1940's. Marsh ping-ponged between Tristano and the West Coast, mostly in relative obscurity, until he died on stage at Donte's in North Hollywood in December 1987.

Chamberlin skillfully weaves the facts of Marsh's life with details about his milieu and descriptions of his recordings. The chapters describing Marsh's early recordings with fellow Tristanoite Lee Konitz are particularly interesting. Chamberlin delicately deals with the difficult subjects of drugs, commercialism and racism in jazz music.

I have read many jazz biographies, some lurid, some sloppy and inaccurate. This one, however, treats the subject matter with the seriousness and attention to detail this wonderful music we call "jazz" deserves.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific book about a wonderful musician., September 23, 2001

By 

eddie richey (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Unsung Cat (Hardcover)

My biggest complaint about Ken Burns' "Jazz" was how many great musicians were ignored. People like Herbie Nichols, Serge Chaloff, Jimmy Raney, the list is almost endless. Safford Chamberlain's book about one of the most sorely underappreciated improvisers ever is superb. It puts in human terms the struggles that almost all jazz musicians faced from the late 1940's on in trying to document a music that was falling further and further from the public view. Lee Konitz has stated "I don't know of any other musician that realy surprised me as much as Warne did with his inventiveness." Mr. Chamberlain is an excellent writer, and I hope this book helps to turn more jazz fans onto to Warne.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars unsung cat, July 7, 2002

By 

John Ritchie (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Unsung Cat (Hardcover)

Mr. Chamberlain has done a great service for jazz musicians and fans with the creation of this book. One of the most refreshing points of the book (which actually sets it apart from most other jazz biographies) is that Safford is not scared to be critical of Warne and his associates, especially Lennie Tristano. The book only paints a vague picture of Warne as a person, but I interpret that as a way of showing how hard it was to really get to know the man. This is definitely a book that should be picked up to help spread the word about one of jazz' most important and creative improvisers.