Overview

This portrait of jazz musicians Willie Ruff and Dwike Mitchell tells not just how these men became musicians but how they live their lives as musicians -- how they give the gift of jazz to communities that would otherwise not have access to this powerful music. Born into Southern homes long before the civil rights era began, Ruff and Mitchell became successful musicians with degrees from two of the country's most elite conservatories. Mitchell and Ruff follows the musicians to Shanghai, where they bring jazz to China; to the Midwest, where they demonstrate their talents to audiences usually ignored by musicians; to New York City, where Mitchell teaches a new generation of talented but untrained musicians; and to Venice, where Ruff travels back to the roots of Western music in order to understand jazz legacy.

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9780966491340

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Reviews

<b>Praise for William Zinsser and <i>Mitchell and Ruff</i></b></p> Highly recommended --<b><i>Library Journal</i></b></p> In this account of the world adventures of two splendid jazz artists, Bill Zinsser has given us one of the most exciting books about America's original art form that I've ever read. It's a revelation. --<b>Studs Terkel</b></p> [This is a] thoughtful, adept, and satisfyingly unusual book of reportage...Though its contents are entirely factual, it concerns lives that give the sense of being but fatefully, imaginatively, arranged, and it constantly suggests improvisation--that is, 'something created during the process of delivery, ' as Mr. Ruff explains the term to the Chinese...He also tells them improvisation is 'the lifeblood of jazz.' William Zinsser's book reminds us that improvisation is the lifeblood of life, too. [This book is also] about difficult passages that end in victorious arrival. Mitchell & Ruff is a deservedly happy book. --<b><i>New York Times Book Review</i></b></p> A highly infectious, Studs Terkel-like chronicle about the unorthodox development of two distinguished musicians. --<b><i>Publishers Weekly</i></b></p>

Praise for William Zinsser and Mitchell and Ruff Highly recommended --Library Journal In this account of the world adventures of two splendid jazz artists, Bill Zinsser has given us one of the most exciting books about America's original art form that I've ever read. It's a revelation. --Studs Terkel [This is a] thoughtful, adept, and satisfyingly unusual book of reportage...Though its contents are entirely factual, it concerns lives that give the sense of being but fatefully, imaginatively, arranged, and it constantly suggests improvisation--that is, 'something created during the process of delivery, ' as Mr. Ruff explains the term to the Chinese...He also tells them improvisation is 'the lifeblood of jazz.' William Zinsser's book reminds us that improvisation is the lifeblood of life, too. [This book is also] about difficult passages that end in victorious arrival. Mitchell & Ruff is a deservedly happy book. --New York Times Book Review A highly infectious, Studs Terkel-like chronicle about the unorthodox development of two distinguished musicians. --Publishers Weekly Praise for William Zinsser and Mitchell and Ruff-Highly recommended---Library Journal-In this account of the world adventures of two splendid jazz artists, Bill Zinsser has given us one of the most exciting books about America's original art form that I've ever read. It's a revelation.---Studs Terkel-[This is a] thoughtful, adept, and satisfyingly unusual book of reportage...Though its contents are entirely factual, it concerns lives that give the sense of being but fatefully, imaginatively, arranged, and it constantly suggests improvisation--that is, 'something created during the process of delivery, ' as Mr. Ruff explains the term to the Chinese...He also tells them improvisation is 'the lifeblood of jazz.' William Zinsser's book reminds us that improvisation is the lifeblood of life, too. [This book is also] about difficult passages that end in victorious arrival. Mitchell & Ruff is a deservedly happy book.---New York Times Book Review-A highly infectious, Studs Terkel-like chronicle about the unorthodox development of two distinguished musicians.---Publishers Weekly Praise for William Zinsser and Mitchell and Ruff Highly recommended Library Journal In this account of the world adventures of two splendid jazz artists, Bill Zinsser has given us one of the most exciting books about America's original art form that I've ever read. It's a revelation. Studs Terkel [This is a] thoughtful, adept, and satisfyingly unusual book of reportageThough its contents are entirely factual, it concerns lives that give the sense of being but fatefully, imaginatively, arranged, and it constantly suggests improvisationthat is, 'something created during the process of delivery, ' as Mr. Ruff explains the term to the ChineseHe also tells them improvisation is 'the lifeblood of jazz.' William Zinsser's book reminds us that improvisation is the lifeblood of life, too. [This book is also] about difficult passages that end in victorious arrival. Mitchell & Ruff is a deservedly happy book. New York Times Book Review A highly infectious, Studs Terkel-like chronicle about the unorthodox development of two distinguished musicians. Publishers Weekly

Praise for William Zinsser and Mitchell and Ruff Highly recommended Library Journal In this account of the world adventures of two splendid jazz artists, Bill Zinsser has given us one of the most exciting books about America's original art form that I've ever read. It's a revelation. Studs Terkel [This is a] thoughtful, adept, and satisfyingly unusual book of reportageThough its contents are entirely factual, it concerns lives that give the sense of being but fatefully, imaginatively, arranged, and it constantly suggests improvisationthat is, 'something created during the process of delivery, ' as Mr. Ruff explains the term to the ChineseHe also tells them improvisation is 'the lifeblood of jazz.' William Zinsser's book reminds us that improvisation is the lifeblood of life, too. [This book is also] about difficult passages that end in victorious arrival. Mitchell & Ruff is a deservedly happy book. New York Times Book Review A highly infectious, Studs Terkel-like chronicle about the unorthodox development of two distinguished musicians. Publishers Weekly

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William Zinsser

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