Fakebook: Improvisation On A Journey Back To Jazz

by Richard Terrill

(Limelight). A "fakebook" is a collection of melodies with the chord changes that allows jazz musicians to read the tunes instead of playing solely by ear and memory. It is, then, a place to start, a structure upon which jazz improvisation, "faking," builds. As a young man, the author, a jazz saxophone player, tried to make a living at what he loved most. He failed, gave up jazz and became a college English professor. Today he is playing his saxophone again, at weekend gigs, rediscovering the unending challenge and the fulfillment that jazz brings him. This journey of self-discovery demonstrates the power of both jazz and superbly crafted writing.

1 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2000

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as preparation for a class I was enrolled in at Chautauqua which the author taught. Terrill was a musician before a writer. This is his memoir of his "going back" to his musical roots. I enjoyed the book because the art playing jazz was unknown to this listener of jazz.

I cared about the protagonist....and enjoyed and learned much in the memoir writing class.