Conversations in Jazz

May 15, 2016

This title collects 14 unpublished interviews of jazz luminaries conducted between 1959 and 1961 by music journalist Gleason (1917-75), providing contextual material for his writings. Several cast new light on their subjects, such as revelatory discussions with pianist Les McCann, the often-neglected hard-bop drummer Philly Jo Jones, bassist Percy Heath of the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ), bebop pioneer and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, and pianist Bill Evans. Exchanges with vibes player Milt Jackson, saxophone giant Sonny Rollins, Duke Ellington, and members of the MJQ--pianist John Lewis and drummer Connie Kay--offer fascinating tidbits of new information. Dialogs with saxophonist John Coltrane, hard-bop pianist Horace Silver, singer Jon Hendricks and band leader, composer, and producer Quincy Jones provide valuable background into jazz culture. VERDICT Music fans and some general readers will welcome this treasure trove of previously unavailable interviews by a premier journalist who unfailingly asked perceptive and probing questions.--David P. Szatmary, emeritus, Univ. of Washington, Seattle

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