Downbeat Recommends…
Pity The Genius: A Journey Through American Guitar Music In 33 Tracks
Guitarist Joel Harrison has always also been a guitar historian. In Pity The Genius he dives into the music and lives of 33 guitarists without regard for style or genre, choosing to tell their stories through 33 quintessential songs. He hits the jazz maestros like Pat Martino, Jim Hall and Wes Montgomery, but also blues, folk, rock, soul and uncategorizable artists, both well known and under the radar. It’s a terrific read for guitar geeks, and regular fans, too. BUY NOWThe Landfill Chronicles
Veteran music journalist Dan Ouellette has com- piled nearly 30 of his favorite articles from over the years into this terrific new book. Although he often writes about jazz for this magazine, Ouellette adeptly covers a broad spectrum of music — from Frank Zappa, Henry Threadgill and esperanza spalding to Astor Piazolla, Abdullah Ibrahim and Elvis Costello. BUY NOWJazz Omnibus: 21st Century Photos And Writings By Members Of The Jazz Journalists Association
This is a terrific anthology from members of the JJA, an organization that has promoted jazz jour- nalism since 1987. With 90 contributors to the book, expect to read the work of many of your favorite DownBeat authors — Ted Panken on Sonny Rollins, Michael Jackson on Keith Jarrett, Ashley Kahn on jazz expatriots, Howard Mandel on Ornette Coleman’s birthday party, Suzanne Lorge on Carla Bley and more! BUY NOW
New for Fall 2024
Cymbal Press has three great new books available for every musical taste. Treat yourself to the gift of brilliant music writing or purchase them as a gift. All books are available in softcover, hardcover, and Kindle editions.
The Jazz Omnibus: 21st-Century Photos and Writings by Members of the Jazz Journalists Association is a spectacular anthology of works by 90 international experts in jazz and related music. Covering a broad spectrum of artists, recordings, events and scenes, it stands alone as a compendium of reportage and analysis of an art form embarking on jazz’s second hundred years offering pleasure and insights, building communities that celebrate creative individuality and ensemble play. The book’s contributors represent the finest music writers and photographers alive today. Their skill, wisdom, insight, and generosity converge to produce a timeless contribution to music criticism, history, and scholarship.
Pity the Genius – A Journey through American Guitar Music in 33 Tracks by guitarist and author Joel Harrison takes readers on a deep dive into the often-tumultuous lives of 33 extraordinary guitarists, capturing their brilliance, triumphs, and struggles through biography and musical analysis of seminal tracks. From Arthur Rhames’ volcanic performances to the introspective elegance of Pat Martino, Joel Harrison encapsulates the essence of these musicians in a way that is both intimate and illuminating. The tracks he selects tell the story of American music across time and genre, representing jazz, rock, blues, country, folk, roots music, and more.
Beyond the music, this book delves into the personal challenges and societal obstacles these artists faced. Whether it’s the tragic early deaths of guitar prodigies like Danny Gatton and Jimi Hendrix or the enduring influence of genre-defining musicians like Prince and Joni Mitchell, Pity the Genius presents a vivid tapestry of musical stories that have shaped the sound of America. Ultimately, this is a celebration of guitarists and the extraordinary music they gifted the world.
The Landfill Chronicles – Unearthing Legends of Modern Music, by veteran music journalist Dan Ouellette. The Landfill Chronicles is a reflection on meaningful and ultimately historical conversations Dan had with an amazing collection of musicians, including: John Abercrombie, Laurie Anderson, Carla Bley, Dee Dee Bridgewater, David Byrne, Regina Carter, Ornette Coleman, Elvis Costello, Charlie Haden, John Lee Hooker, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Abdullah Ibrahim, Keith Jarrett, Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Joni Mitchell, Jason Moran, Astor Piazzolla, Lou Reed, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Saxophone Summit, Henry Threadgill, McCoy Tyner, and Frank Zappa.