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Non-Fiction Books and Collectors Items
by Robin D. G. Kelley
Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original
In Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original, Elusive, mysterious, strange, eccentric, weird, genius"—the legend of jazz pianist Thelonious Monk began early in his career, propagated by supporters and detractors in equal measure. Kelley (Race Rebels ) breaks down the mythology, taking great pains to establish, for example, that Monk, far from being an untutored savant, was intimately familiar with classical and popular music. Every step of Monk's musical journey is teased out in meticulous detail, from his childhood piano lessons to his groundbreaking half-year run headlining at New York's Five Spot, along with behind-the-scenes stories from the recording sessions for classic albums like Brilliant Corners and Monk's Music, states Publishers' Weekly.
This work is scholarly and so full of facts and details that it may not seemvery entertaining. Yet, the book gives a readable and informative account about his life. The author clearly has a positive attitude toward Monk and seems to have aimed to provide an impartial review - that does not focus nor linger on his undiagnosed illness of bi-polar disorder.
For true Monk fans this book is a must read that gives a lot of personal accounts from people that were close to Monk. The book is available on Amazon
By Ronald Spagnardi
Modern Drummer Magazine (July 1998) Ricky Lawson - Drummer To The Stars
In Modern Drummer Magazine (July 1998) Ricky Lawson - Drummer To The Stars Ronald Spagnardi is one of the top journalist covering drummers of last and this century. Ricky Lawson is one of the most amazing drummers in the world.
This collectors item will delight Ricky Lawson fans. It just might be easier to say who Ricky Lawson hasn't played with rather than list all of credits. Having performed with the likes of Quincy Jones, the Brothers Johnson, Phil Collins, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton, Babyface, Lionel Ritchie, Anita Baker (The Rapture), Whitney Houston (I Will Always Love You), not to mention as musical director for Michael Jackson, Ricky was also the original drummer for The Yellowjackets, where he won best R&B Instrumental Grammy in 1986 (And You Know That). There's obviously a reason why these musical superstars have Ricky on a first-call basis, and that's not only because he is so massively talented and guaranteed to give a record a giant grove, but he's so exceedingly humble and helpful to others as well. More about Ricky Lawson's recent CD release can be found on www.virtuosomusicanddistribution.com
The collectors edition of Drummer's World with Ricky Lawson on the front cover can be purchased through Amazon.
