We're not usually fans of books on a single album – but in this case, we gladly make an exception – as the creation and circulation of MilesDavis' Kind Of Blue is definitely powerful enough to fill volumes of writing! Author Richard Williams does a great job of exploring this crucial piece of jazz – not only detailing the important session and musical moment that led to the record's creation, but also looking it its influence for decades after its release – not just in jazz, but in American popular culture as well! Hardcover book is 309 pages. Book
George Benson tells the full scope of his great career both as a guitarist and a singer – a story that goes back way before his 70s fame – to include key time on the Pittsburgh scene, early R&B work, and time with organist Brother Jack McDuff! George gets through all of these years – then moves on to time at Verve, A&M, and work with MilesDavis – before leaping into 70s fame and beyond – all with help from author Alan Goldsher, who helps give George's words some shape. The book also features a nice section of photographs, plus some nice little interlude sections too – and the hardcover volume is 222 pages in length. Book
(Note that the hardcover dustjacket has some very light wear. Book is fine.)
A work of fiction, but one that dives deep into the mind of MilesDavis, its main character – in a tale that begins with a police assault outside Birdland one night in August of 1959, then follows Davis as he reacts the the experience – moving around the city, and ruminating about his role in jazz and the impulses that have brought him so far. Author Wesley Brown takes a lot of liberty with dialogue and thoughts that might have been going through Miles' head – and romantic interest Frances Taylor figures strongly in the story as well. Some might argue for the opinions uttered by Davis in the story, and the tone he takes when speaking – but that's also part of the compelling quality of the book, and the risks it takes – imagining internal and external modes amidst a framework of actual events. 65 pages, hardcover. Book
A great look at a really unique moment in fashion – a time when the mainstream trappings of ivy league styles were taken up by African-American cultural figures – a moment of cooption that led was key to a rising sense of pride and power in the postwar years! You'll instantly recognize the look from the image of MilesDavis on the cover – and Davis is one of the figures who gets focus in the book – alongside other jazz musicians like Billy Taylor and Sonny Rollins, writers like Amiri Baraka and James Baldwin, and civil rights icons like Martin Luther King and Malcolm X – all of whom wore button down shirts, well-crafted blazers, and hip skinny ties as they helped forge a whole new identity for black America in the 50s and 60s. The book is beautifully done – and ties together so many images we know from the press and record covers, mixed with others we're seeing here for the first time – all give thoughtful text along the way by British writer Jason Jules. The heavy, hardcover book is 224 pages in all – with color and black and white images throughout. Book
Amazing images from the painter of the Bitches Brew album cover – the legendary Mati Klarwein – an artist with a very colorful style of painting nude bodies! Mati's artwork has graced many albums over the years – not just work from MilesDavis, but records by Buddy Miles, Jerry Garcia, The Chambers Brothers, and many others – all of which are presented here in a really well-done book – filled with vivid, colorful reproductions of the album covers in full 12" square size! The original package was put together in a limited pressing by a French gallery – but this version is much more affordable, and also features English notes as well – but all without sacrificing any of the printing quality at all. The book is 184 pages, full color, and with nice heavy covers – and it's just the right size to stack nicely next to your classic MilesDavis records! Book
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