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9780195085501

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This is really a book about the 'jazz life' more than about the music per se....These narratives are a healthy dose of stories about the jazz free-lance musicians' life and music. --Dick Weissman In From Birdland to Broadway, Crow shares insightful anecdotes from his long career and writes in a style that's as relaxed, friendly, and straight ahead as a Mulligan baritone sax solo....He never skimps on the humorous asides and telling details. What's more, he renders most of the technical stuff, such as flugelhornist Clark Terry's method of rotary breathing, understandable to even the most unrhythmic or tonedeaf reader. Bop lives in Crow's colorful account. --Cleveland Plain Dealer Providing some fascinating social history, [Crow] has written a book of intimate and entertaining vignettes about some modern jazz masters. --Library Journal

Low-key memoir by jazz musician and writer Crow. Fresh and 22, Crow arrived in Manhattan in 1950, coming from Washington State. He played trumpet, baritone horn, tuba, valve trombone, drums, and tenor sax, but his main axe was the bass fiddle. Bop had hit 52nd Street, and Crow hit Birdland - the bop mecca named after Charlie Yardbird Parker. Although Crow later played at Birdland himself, and adored Parker, he seems to have been a swing rather than a bop player. Here, he tells countless stories about his career but focuses on short takes that don't develop genuine continuity of interest. Among his longer takes are those about Charlie Parker: Though I hoped to find a memory of him in Clint Eastwood's movie Bird, I was sorry to see that, except on the soundtrack, Charlie wasn't there. The movie missed Bird's nature, his confidence, his intelligence, and especially his wit. In 1962, Crow was hired by Benny Goodman to accompany his band to the Soviet Union. The low-paying Goodman was, as recounted by many others, a terrible man to work for, ever the ogre on the bandstand and a creature of great vanity. Crow is also spot-on with Stan Getz: Stan had a pleasant disposition when he was sober, but when using drugs he could be awash with maudlin sentiment one minute and cold, distrustful, and cruel the next. Discussing him with friends...Zoot Sims said, 'Yeah, Stan's a nice bunch of guys.' Other outstanding passages tell of Crow's work with the Gerry Mulligan combos and Claude Thornhill's band; in Broadway pit bands; and his friendship with Dave Lambert. Well written but seldom gripping. (Kirkus Reviews)

'Whether as bystander or musician, Crow was often in the right place at the right time and recalls many priceless incidents. His book is entertaining and readable - don't miss it.' Peter Vacher, Jazz Magazine 'he has plenty to tell and his book sparkles with humour ... It is often deeply moving too.' Chris Searle, Morning Star Providing some fascinating social history, [Crow] has written a book of intimate and entertaining vignettes about some modern jazz masters. -Library Journal In From Birdland to Broadway, Crow shares insightful anecdotes from his long career and writes in a style that's as relaxed, friendly, and straight ahead as a Mulligan baritone sax solo....He never skimps on the humorous asides and telling details. What's more, he renders most of the technical stuff, such as flugelhornist Clark Terry's method of rotary breathing, understandable to even the most unrhythmic or tonedeaf reader. Bop lives in Crow's colorful account. -Cleveland Plain Dealer `the best and possibly the only book I have read about the life of a jobbing jazz musician ... one feels that if he had been a star he could never have written a book as fascinating as this one, which digs deep into the jazz life' Peter Hepple, Stage & Television Today `The book bristles with insider's tales about musicians he has met in 40 years of gigging around. Bill Crow's book keeps you smiling from the first page to the last ... eminently readable book ... Here is a fine bassist dipping into a deep well of reminiscence and showing that he can write as well as he can play.' Reginald Brace, Yorkshire Post `there are some interesting yarns and insights ... Bogside fare at best.' Brian Glasser, Q `From Birdland to Broadway is autobiographical, and the writing flows smoothly.' Times Literary Supplement `From Birdland to Broadway is a book that is difficult to put down, in both senses of the term.' Macon Telegraph `Crow's lively style perfectly illuminates his insider's view of the jazz scene of the '50s and '60s' Russ Neff, The Patriot-News `Oxford University Press is to be congratulated on recognising the historical value of these memories of a man who has been there' Jazz Times, April 1993

'Oxford University Press is to be congratulated on recognising the historical value of these memories of a man who has been there' Jazz Times, April 1993 'Crow's lively style perfectly illuminates his insider's view of the jazz scene of the '50s and '60s' Russ Neff, The Patriot-News 'From Birdland to Broadway is a book that is difficult to put down, in both senses of the term.' Macon Telegraph 'From Birdland to Broadway is autobiographical, and the writing flows smoothly.' Times Literary Supplement 'there are some interesting yarns and insights ... Bogside fare at best.' Brian Glasser, Q 'The book bristles with insider's tales about musicians he has met in 40 years of gigging around. Bill Crow's book keeps you smiling from the first page to the last ... eminently readable book ... Here is a fine bassist dipping into a deep well of reminiscence and showing that he can write as well as he can play.' Reginald Brace, Yorkshire Post 'the best and possibly the only book I have read about the life of a jobbing jazz musician ... one feels that if he had been a star he could never have written a book as fascinating as this one, which digs deep into the jazz life' Peter Hepple, Stage & Television Today In From Birdland to Broadway, Crow shares insightful anecdotes from his long career and writes in a style that's as relaxed, friendly, and straight ahead as a Mulligan baritone sax solo...He never skimps on the humorous asides and telling details. What's more, he renders most of the technical stuff, such as flugelhornist Clark Terry's method of rotary breathing, understandable to even the most unrhythmic or tonedeaf reader. Bop lives in Crow's colorful account. -Cleveland Plain Dealer Providing some fascinating social history, [Crow] has written a book of intimate and entertaining vignettes about some modern jazz masters. -Library Journal 'he has plenty to tell and his book sparkles with humour ... It is often deeply moving too.' Chris Searle, Morning Star 'Whether as bystander or musician, Crow was often in the right place at the right time and recalls many priceless incidents. His book is entertaining and readable - don't miss it.' Peter Vacher, Jazz Magazine

Author Information

Bill Crow is an accomplished jazz musician and writer. He is the author of Jazz Anecdotes, which was voted Best Jazz Book of 1991 in a Jazz Times readers' poll.

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