Celebrating The Duke: And Louis, Bessie, Billie, Bird, Carmen, Miles, Dizzy And Other Heroes

by Ralph J. Gleason

"If you want to know what real jazz criticism is, read Celebrating the Duke. It is a fitting memorial to an outstanding critic and writer."-- Jazz Journal





Celebrating the Duke offers readers a perceptive, panoramic survey of jazz as revealed, in illuminating detail, through the lives and music of its heroes and heroines, including Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Jimmie Lunceford, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Albert Ayler, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and a rich cache of writings on "America's greatest composer," the Duke himself.




Foreword by Studs Terkel

New introduction by Ira Gitler

Genres: Music, Jazz, Essays, Journalism

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[- - · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short biographical essays, magazine pieces, liner notes, memoirs on friendships.

[Lyle Krewson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating !!!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ralph Gleason is an incredible writer and music journalist, which is no more evident than here. His essays on Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday are amazing. His essay on Louis Armstrong -- a figure who sometimes ends up not given his due as a civil rights activist in the jazz scene -- is excellent and will make you look at the man in a totally different light.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me fall in love with jazz....