New Book: "Conversations with Charlie Haden"

"CONVERSATIONS WITH CHARLIE HADEN" BRINGS THE CELEBRATED BASSIST-COMPOSER-BANDLEADER UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL


(Los Angeles) - Charlie Haden (1937-2014) was the rare sort of musician who transcended easy categorization-other than to say that his uniquely elegant and eloquent bass playing, with its readily recognizable sound, defined a certain pinnacle of musical communication in beautiful, spontaneous, and intensely emotional ways. Throughout his career, he worked with and influenced many of the most interesting musicians of the second half of the twentieth century, including Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Paul Bley, Carla Bley, Keith Jarrett, Billy Higgins, Paul Motion, Dewey Redman, Pat Metheny, Egberto Gismonti, Gavin Bryars, Geri Allen, Brad Mehldau, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and literally hundreds of others.

"Conversations" is the first book devoted to the fascinating and wide-ranging life of Charlie Haden. Through 17 candid interviews conducted over a 20-year span, award-winning jazz critic and author Josef Woodard elicits from Haden stories that tie together the musician's diverse musical interests, exploratory jazz work, passions, politics, aesthetics, inspirations, and much more.

Woodard's initial conversations with Haden date back to 1988. "At that time [1988], at the pivotal age of 50, Haden seemed galvanized in his determination to make certain projects hap­pen, to explore new ideas as a leader rather than a sideman, and to devote himself to a pursuit of truth and purity of intent as a musician," Woodard says. "There are many stories in ... jazz deserving a place in the public discourse, and Charlie Haden's grand saga is one of those special and highly personal journeys. This book is ... a story told in conversational waves.... Consider it a verbal companion to the sublime musical sounds Charlie created, and which still resonate in our ears and hearts."

Prepublication comments about"Conversations with Charlie Haden" have been very good: Award-winning author and jazz critic (The Village Voice, The Atlantic, etc.) Francis Davis wrote, "Charlie Haden's story is a classic American saga, and Josef Woodard allows him to tell it eloquently and in moving detail." Well-known music writer (The New York Times, NPR, etc.) Michelle Mercer observed, "Joe Woodard's treasure trove of interviews with Charlie Haden gives us such an intimate portrait of the jazz giant that we feel like we're sitting in the room with an old friend. Even better, Haden opens up about his iconic musical associates over the years, allowing us rare access into the insular world of jazz itself."

Beyond documenting Haden's exceptional life story "Conversations" is compelling in what it says about the history of late 20th century jazz and the state of jazz today.



CONVERSATIONS WITH CHARLIE HADEN
Paper/$19.95, 256 pages, Illustrated (24 black-and-white photos)
ISBN: 978-1-935247-15-9
Publication Date: January 15, 2017
Music/Jazz/Biography
Silman-James Press, Los Angeles

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from www.jazzcorner.com