But Beautiful is a book about jazz and jazz musicians by Geoff Dyer. First published in 1991, it is the first of Dyer's so-called "genre-defying" works.[1]
Like Michael Ondaatje's Coming Through Slaughter, But Beautiful takes a fictionalised look at jazz. Divided into seven sections each covering a different legendary jazz figure, it uses historical details, photographs and music to paint the self-destruction and inspiration behind genius. Short vignettes of Duke Ellington and Harry Carney's famous between-gig road trips are interspersed throughout. It concludes with a seven-part analysis of jazz styles and influences that reads more like conventional music criticism.
Receptionedit
The book is one of Dyer's most acclaimed works. Pianist Keith Jarrett said it was:
"The only book about jazz that I have recommended to my friends. It is a little gem with the distinction of being 'about' jazz rather than 'on' jazz. If closeness to the material determines a great solo, Mr. Dyer's book is one."[2]
In The New York Times Book Review, critic Ralph Blumenthal wrote, "Like the music he evokes so lyrically, Geoff Dyer's But Beautiful, a quasi-biographical critique of nine jazz legends, relies heavily on improvisation. You don't have to be a jazz buff to savor this book—but you may be one when you're done."[3] In The New York Times, critic Richard Bernstein discussed the book's "electrifying, typically gemlike passages of criticism," and called the work, "marvelously lyrical."[4]
beautiful, book, about, jazz, beautiful, book, about, jazz, jazz, musicians, geoff, dyer, first, published, 1991, first, dyer, called, genre, defying, works, first, edition, cover, contents, summary, reception, awards, cultural, references, jazz, musicians, co. But Beautiful is a book about jazz and jazz musicians by Geoff Dyer First published in 1991 it is the first of Dyer s so called genre defying works 1 First edition cover Contents 1 Summary 2 Reception 3 Awards 4 Cultural references 5 Jazz musicians covered 6 References 7 External linksSummary editLike Michael Ondaatje s Coming Through Slaughter But Beautiful takes a fictionalised look at jazz Divided into seven sections each covering a different legendary jazz figure it uses historical details photographs and music to paint the self destruction and inspiration behind genius Short vignettes of Duke Ellington and Harry Carney s famous between gig road trips are interspersed throughout It concludes with a seven part analysis of jazz styles and influences that reads more like conventional music criticism Reception editThe book is one of Dyer s most acclaimed works Pianist Keith Jarrett said it was The only book about jazz that I have recommended to my friends It is a little gem with the distinction of being about jazz rather than on jazz If closeness to the material determines a great solo Mr Dyer s book is one 2 In The New York Times Book Review critic Ralph Blumenthal wrote Like the music he evokes so lyrically Geoff Dyer s But Beautiful a quasi biographical critique of nine jazz legends relies heavily on improvisation You don t have to be a jazz buff to savor this book but you may be one when you re done 3 In The New York Times critic Richard Bernstein discussed the book s electrifying typically gemlike passages of criticism and called the work marvelously lyrical 4 Awards editThe book was one of the winners of a 1992 Somerset Maugham Award Cultural references edit But Beautiful is also the name of a jazz composition by Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen and was recorded by two of the book s subjects Ben Webster and Art Pepper as well as such notables as Nancy Wilson Bill Evans Frank Sinatra and Freddie Hubbard Jazz musicians covered editDuke Ellington and Harry Carney Lester Young Thelonious Monk Bud Powell Ben Webster Chet Baker Art Pepper Charles MingusReferences edit Jukes Peter November 26 1993 Track Events New Statesman 46 47 But Beautiful A Book About Jazz JazzScript Archived from the original on August 8 2014 Retrieved July 10 2014 Blumenthal Ralph March 24 1996 But Beautiful The New York Times Book Review Bernstein Richard March 20 1996 Jazz s Dark Forces and the Artist s Who Love Them The New York Times Dyer Geoff But Beautiful a Book about Jazz ISBN 0 349 11005 0External links editEvan Ratliff Geoff Dyer on Otherwise Known as the Human Condition interview The Paris Review 11 April 2011 nbsp This article about a music publication is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title But Beautiful A Book About Jazz amp oldid 1138488304, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
