If your idea of heaven at a baseball game would be having Vin Scully sit next to you and describe what’s going on between pitches, the jazz equivalent would be sitting with jazz journalist Scott Yanow in some place like Catalina’s or the Blue Whale. Yanow has an encyclopedic knowledge of jazz, but what sets him apart from the rest is that his way of relating the information to you is done in a friendly and informal manner that makes you glad for the information. He’s also got the rare quality to make trivial musical information (and musicians) become important by putting them in the proper perspective. He’s penned a ton of books already, and I’m sure you have at least a handful of albums with him doing the liner notes.
Here, he’s released a workable (meaning around 250 pages) and readable semi-encylopedia of the best, most important and most intriguing jazz guitarists that have graced this planet. He’s got 345 “Great” guitarists which include concise biographies and a selection of each ones recommended releases. My only caveat is that Yanow has such great taste in music, I wished that he would have recommended the ONE essential release from each artist as a starting point. He’s also listed a group of 44 historically important stringers, and then a chapter on 175 axe men (and women) that are currently on the jazz circuit. For all of you trivia buffs, he has small chapters on artists that you may not know actually played jazz guitar at some time, such as country guitarist Roy Clarke or jazz vibist Milt Jackson. A segment on jazz guitarists on film is also the start of a dvd collection for completists.
A book like this is not to be judged by the most famous guitarists. OF COURSE there are going to be sections on George Benson, Grant Green, Joe Pass, Django Reinhardt and Pat Metheny. Why you want Yanow’s book is because of the more under-appreciated pickers and strummers. This book gets you to start thinking of the more obscure guys. Is there an article on John Pisano? Al Viola? Ed Bickert? Jimmy Bruno? As if these guys aren’t under the major radar enough, the section on current guitarists has guys like Doug Munro and Thom Rotella who are only known outside of their immediate family. THIS is why you get this book. You want to find out what you DON’T know, and Yanow’s the guy to make you sorry you didn’t discover them before. Great obsession starter!
Backbeat Books
www.backbeatbooks.com