Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn

Lush Life (jazz song)

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This book is the result of an incredible amount of research and interviews, and fills i When I took a "History of Jazz" class in college, our professor didn't spend that much time on Billy Strayhorn, but everything he said made a big impression: This book is the result of an incredible amount of research and interviews, and fills in the many blanks about Strayhorn's mysterious life story. Although it's a little dry in places, overall it's a fascinating portrait that finally gives this genius his due. Aug 03, Andrea Claburn rated it really liked it. A fascinating look at the life a famously reticent, inscrutable figure in American music history and the genius behind much of Duke Ellington's compositional output.

Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn

I came away from this book with a profound sense of loss, not only because of a life cut far too short, at 51, but the cultural loss of music that might have been from a brilliant mind whose talent knew no boundaries. Billy Strayhorn was "beyond category" to use a phrase favored by his famous collaborator , capable of spectacular co A fascinating look at the life a famously reticent, inscrutable figure in American music history and the genius behind much of Duke Ellington's compositional output. Billy Strayhorn was "beyond category" to use a phrase favored by his famous collaborator , capable of spectacular compositions in any style, any orchestration or instrumentation, but who worked predominantly in jazz due to the discrimination he faced in the classical world.

Strayhorn had had the freedom to pursue all avenues of musical expression and continue to make a living doing so , we as a nation might have had another important modern American "art music" which I use for lack of a better term, because what he did write was clearly high art composer in addition to one of the great big-band and small ensemble composer-arrangers in history.

Billy died in at the height of the civil rights movement which he passionately supported in any way he could ; there is no telling what he might have accomplished if he had been granted a couple more decades of productive artistic output in a more open, receptive cultural environment in his native country Parisians had always embraced him, and he them.

We'll never know how things might have played out had he not passed away so young, but this book suggests how much we lost the day Billy Strayhorn died by painting a moving portrait of a courageous, uncompromising artist who was truly ahead of his time. Oct 13, Alton rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Jazz fans, lovers of Ellington's music. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Overall a good book about a very interesting and talented musician who to this day remains unrecognized for the contributions he made to popular music. Many songs commonly thought to be the work of Duke Ellington were in fact due to the work of Strayhorn.

Minor quibble with the writing-some parts seem a bit incomplete and are screaming out for more exposition. Where Hadju succeeds is in portraying the rich life Strayhorn led as an openly gay black man during the 40's and 50's.

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Interviews with fr Overall a good book about a very interesting and talented musician who to this day remains unrecognized for the contributions he made to popular music. Interviews with friends and associates show a man dear to everyone who knew him. He also did a good job of showing the creative process and the work involved in putting out a finished piece of music, live and on record.

The question of why Strayhorn remains virtually unknown is not answered by this book-it might not ever be answered to anyone's satisfaction since it seems Strayhorn was complicit in his anonymity while he was alive.

In ways he needed Duke just as Ellington needed his genius. Homophobia might have played a bigger role in his remaining silent. Highly recommend this book to lovers of jazz and Ellington and Strayhorn fans in particular. Anyone who appreciates greatness of soul.

This book chronicles what has to be the most unique and intricate collaboration in the history of music: An analogy would be if Salieri had embraced Mozart upon his arrival in Vienna, and paid all his bills and gambling debts, while Mozart wrote music for Salieri and pushed Salieri's musical acumen far beyond what it would have been, all while staying resolutley out of the Court limelight and pursuing his Masonic interests. My mind just boggled coming This book chronicles what has to be the most unique and intricate collaboration in the history of music: My mind just boggled coming up with that analogy.

Anyway, this biography obviously gave me a greater appreciation for the genius of Billy Strayhorn, and it also gave me a greater appreciation for the greatness of Duke Ellington; it also made me go back and listen to " Apr 08, Chris rated it it was amazing. It feels more cunning than conniving, a clever marketing strategy in a white mainstream which was unprepared to admire so many talented blacks, an act which could implici "Duke ran his business like a family, and his family like a business. It feels more cunning than conniving, a clever marketing strategy in a white mainstream which was unprepared to admire so many talented blacks, an act which could implicitly concede equality.

Instead, after swing was safe, it canonized "the exception". Billy was clearly a beautiful humble genius, and his tragedy is that he remained the unacknowledged meat and potatoes in Ellington's melting pot because we didn't recognize that black and gay are vital components of America's. Mar 28, Karen rated it it was amazing. It would take a very hardened soul who could read this book and not be profoundly moved by the beautiful spirit of Billy Strayhorn. In this time of hubris and outlandish political theatrics, Strayhorn's humility, creativity, and gentle confidence shine through.

This book is very skilled at identifying the complexity of his life, and how his genius and personality were informed by the era in which he lived. Like other reviewers, I stopped reading periodically in order to listen to the music on yo It would take a very hardened soul who could read this book and not be profoundly moved by the beautiful spirit of Billy Strayhorn. Like other reviewers, I stopped reading periodically in order to listen to the music on youtube. I'm not really a jazz fan, but this book gave me a much greater appreciation of the music.

What I will most remember about Billy Strayhorn is that he brought out the best in others. This is no small feat, and for this he remains a role model and hero in my eyes. Dec 23, Don rated it it was amazing.

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What a beautiful read! There was so much that was fascinating about Billy Strayhorn's life that's revealed in this book, from his complicated professional relationship with Duke Ellington to his many friendships with prominent artists and even political figures. It really makes you fall in love with Strayhorn - and sent me on a shopping spree for some of his recordings and compositions. It's amazing how much is still not widely known about Strayhorn that was written in this book.

Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn

The amazing sto What a beautiful read! The amazing story about "Take the A-Train" which became the Ellington Orchestra's signature song alone is worth the read. Aug 07, Yvonne rated it really liked it. Billy Strayhorn was also black, gay and a small man in stature only. He lived a big life, in an exciting and amazing time. An incredibly creative musician, write, arranger, and a man beloved by many, many people.

He never got the credit he deserved, but his collaboration with Duke Ellington allowed him many opportunites. If I could go back in time it would be to Harlem in the jazz age, to sit in a club, have a drink and listen to the music all the geniuses of the time were producing.

Dec 12, Constance Chevalier rated it it was amazing. A genius at writing and arranging music, he also played classical piano and sang. He was Duke Ellington's main man who rarely got credit for his work. A close friend to Lena Horne, Johnny Hodges who he also wrote for and played with, Strayhorn was loved by so many in the jazz world.

Lush Life by Hajdu, David

He also became an activist in the Civil Rights Movement. Having been a heavy drinker and smoker he died early from esophogeal cancer. Apr 04, Jim Willse rated it really liked it. Strayhorn would have been this year, and one could argue that he was one of the great 20th Century composers. Certainly if you view his music and that of Ellington's as that of one man, which much of it kind of was. Hadju does a good job on the events and people of Strayhorn's life, but is weak on the under-the-hood music making and light on the extent of his alcoholism.

Read it with the relevant music on in the background. Dec 03, Deborah J. I read this for the second time. There are so many details that I missed the first time around, that it's as if I hadn't read it at all! I read in the mornings now, when my brain--and focus--is clearer.

It gives thorough insight on this genius who provided incredible enrichment to the 'Ellington sound'. I needed to know who he was, how he began, and what his influences were and this book did not disappoint. May 07, Josh rated it it was amazing Shelves: Ships with Tracking Number! Buy with confidence, excellent customer service! Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Cloud 9 Books Condition: May not contain Access Codes or Supplements. Farrar, Straus, Giroux, Fine in glossy wrappers.

Between the Covers- Rare Books, Inc. Russell Books Ltd Condition: Used book in very good condition. Some cover wear, may contain a few marks. Used book in good condition. Has wear to the cover and pages. Contains some markings such as highlighting and writing. Farrar,Straus and Giroux, The Edmonton Book Store Published: Light wear to wrappers, else a very neat, tight copy. Monroe Street Books Published: Very Good None Edition: Farrar Straus Giroux, Sign in or sign up to upload your events.

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