BOOK REviewS

This section includes reviews of books on jazz subjects by a number of writers. Reviewers interested in contributing are welcome to contact the editor by filling out the form in the CONTACT tab. When contributing please include the title of the book and its author, the name of the publisher, the date of publication, the book’s ISBN number, and the number of pages in the book. Please also provide, if possible, a high resolution scan of the book’s cover. Readers can click on the INDEX button for a list of reviews in this folder.

DADDY’S PRACTISING AGAIN: AN AUSTRALIAN JAZZMAN LOOKS BACK AND AROUND

by Dick Hughes

Reviewed by Geoff Gilbert

Jazz DownUnder (Date to come)

Subtitled "An Australian jazzman looks back and around", this book is an absolute must for all those who have ever had anything at all to do with Australian jazz or any sort of jazz for the past 50 years. I read it with the greatest joy and pleasure in one giant gulp and then started all over again just to bask in the pleasure of the reminiscences of musician, critic, raconteur and amazing character, Dick Hughes. It's no good pretending that this will be an analytical and objective review of this book. The fact is that I just loved it…

THE AUSTRALIAN JAZZ EXPLOSION

by Mike Williams

Reviewed by Bruce Johnson

Quarterly Rag, October 1981, No 21

This book has actually been available for nearly a year now, and the moment at which it appeared was, for me, particularly well chosen. At about the same time I had received an invitation to attend a jazz conference. The letter was sent on behalf of 'the future of jazz'. Evidently jazz in this country is so infirm that it is likely to expire but for such things as a day of seminars… Strangely, the news of this revivifying enterprise succeeded only in depressing me. I was much cheered by the appearance of Mike Williams' book…

MERV ACHESON REMEMBERED

Compiled by Bill Boldiston

Reviewed by Bill Brown

Ajazz 70, May 2016

The above title refers to one of Australia's top class jazzmen, the late Merv Acheson. In recent times I have had the privilege of reading a book about this worthy jazzer compiled by Bill Boldiston. To say that Merv was colourful is an understatement. A fine saxophone/clarinet player, his career spanned a few decades mainly in the Sydney area. As well as his musical prowess his general persona really was out there as they say. Mixing with a rather raffish night life culture, even to packing a gun on occasion. However, be that as it may, I prefer to concentrate on his musical capabilities…