- Paperback: 430 pages
- Publisher: The Scarecrow Press, Inc. (28 May 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0810853507
- ISBN-13: 978-0810853508
- Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 15.2 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,701,546 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
Unsung Cat is not only a many-faceted, novelistic biography by a noted jazz journalist and one of Marsh's former sax students, but a heartbreaking mystery that tortures readers with questions as deeply as it satisfies with narrative richness. Who was this jazz cipher, and how did so many of us miss his musical genius?...The publisher has put together a companion CD released by Storyville Records and a book and Cd set for $68.50. That should serve as a good introduction to Marsh's work. Jazzsteps ..highly-detailed biography...an interesting story... Rapport ...painstakingly researched and gracefully written...A fine volume... CHOICE ...with Chamberlain's discerning comments on the music, the interested reader will easily be able to follow Marsh's musical development...the discography is invaluable for a player like Marsh... Iajrc Journal ...remarkable job of cutting through the myth of Warne Marsh and taking a serious, analytical look at his life and his music...Chamberlain's book is one of the finest examples of jazz biography, and worthy of Marsh's legacy in every way. All Music Guide To Jazz Safford Chamberlain...has just given a big boost to Marsh's stock. An Unsung Cat: The Life and Music of Warne Marsh ... is a thorough and objective study of a man Chamberlain calls 'a flawed genius.' Chamberlain's book is important in many respects. Aside from its value as a biography, he provides an informative discography of Marsh's recorded work. An accompanying section of transcribed Marsh solos will prove invaluable to musicians. In addition, Chamberlain has compiled a companion CD of important Marsh recordings. Pasadena Weekly Warne Marsh left a legacy of fine recordings which are thoroughly analyzed by Chamberlain in his compelling and insightful journey into one jazz musician's existence. Safford Chamberlain has compiled a brilliant biography of a very complicated man...This is savvy writing from a man who is in tune with jazz by virtue of being a musician, scholar and a relentless searcher for truth and accuracy. This is the best and most legitimate bio that I have read in years... Jazzreview.com Chamberlain studies jazz saxophone for awhile with Marsh (1927-87), but eventually gave it up in favor of his day job teaching literature and writing about jazz. Still the experience inspired him to produce a biography of his teacher. Aside from some exuberant fans, he says, Marsh was considered a very good second-level tenor saxophonist during his career, but attributes his lack of recognition primarily to an outsider temperament that led him to mismanage his own affairs and contribute to his own obscurity. Reference and Research Book News ...a detailed picture of this fascinating musician. European Free Improvisation Bibliography
Product Description
An Unsung Cat explores the life and music of jazz saxophonist, Warne Marsh. Safford Chamberlain follows the artist from his start in youth bands like the Hollywood Canteen Kids and The Teen-Agers through his studies under Lennie Tristano, his brilliant playing of the 1950s, his disappearance from public view in the 1960s, his re-emergence in the 1970s, and his belated recognition in the 1980s as one of the finest tenor players of the post-World War II era. Through interviews with the Marsh family and friends, Chamberlain offers an inside view of Marsh's private life, including his struggles with drug abuse. Detailed analysis of outstanding performances complements the personal story, while an extensively researched discography and photographs reveal the public and private face of this unique performer. In addition to the book, Scarecrow is pleased to offer a companion compact disc, released by Storyville Records. The tracks on the CD provide a representative sampling of Marsh's best work, while providing a historical overview of his development, from the beginning track, "Apple Honey," which is a private, low-fidelity tape from an NBC radio broadcast in 1945 of the Hoagy Carmichael Show, to the final track, "Sweet and Lovely," captured months before his death in 1987.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
An Unsung Cat..The Life And Music Of Warne Marsh by Safford Chamberlain, Scarecrow Press Safford Chamberlain has amassed ten Years of research into the complex life of Warne Marsh, the underrated and (unsung) Tenor Saxophonist and as a result has penned a fascinating book which traces Marsh's beginnings in Los Angeles to his alliance with Lennie Tristano, the blind pianist and the cultish group that Tristano held sway over in an almost Sheikh Omar Abdullah Rahman fashion. Marsh would continue his on again off again stints with Tristano until Lennie, beset with constant pain and itching in his eyes and grossly overweight from excessive drinking, died. Tristano had been advised to have his eyeballs removed, but refused. His odd behavior can certainly be understood and it worsened in his final days.During Warne Marsh's periods of absence from Tristano's control he seemed to blossom and play with inspiration and explosiveness and once suggested that he had been trying for years to break away {from Tristano} but could never succeed, which clearly illustrates Tristano's grip on his band of followers.Tristano would refer to himself as "Lennie" or "We" in conversation, which,to say the least, is a most quirky affectation....John Norris says that Marsh's link to Tristano seems to have hindered his (Marsh's) career. Med Flory the brilliant Altoist describes Warne Marsh accurately as being "fey" and this characteristic was no doubt the result of the daily use of marijuana since the age of 15 and cocaine for the last 20 years of his life with alcohol and amphetamines thrown in for good measure.Warne Marsh left a legacy of fine recordings which are thoroughly analyzed by Chamberlain in his compelling and insightful journey into one jazz musician's existence. Safford Chamberlain has compiled a brilliant biography of a very complicated man.. For a book as revealing as this work, one is struck by the multitude of interviews and inside information that was garnered. The author studied with Marsh briefly and this relationship was the inspiration for this intriguing book. This is savvy writing from a man who is in tune with jazz by virtue of being a musician, scholar and a relentless searcher for truth and accuracy. This is the best and most legitimate bio that I have read in years......
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
A Scholarly Appraisal of an Underrated Jazz Genius
14 Jan 2001
Format:Hardcover
Safford Chamberlin's love for his subject matter, the jazz solos of the late tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh, comes out on every page of this unusually well researched and well written biography.
Marsh was a child prodigy who fell under the spell of the eccentric jazz recluse Lennie Tristano, the founder and guru of a school of highly disciplined post-bebop jazz in New York City during the late 1940's. Marsh ping-ponged between Tristano and the West Coast, mostly in relative obscurity, until he died on stage at Donte's in North Hollywood in December 1987.
Chamberlin skillfully weaves the facts of Marsh's life with details about his milieu and descriptions of his recordings. The chapters describing Marsh's early recordings with fellow Tristanoite Lee Konitz are particularly interesting. Chamberlin delicately deals with the difficult subjects of drugs, commercialism and racism in jazz music.
I have read many jazz biographies, some lurid, some sloppy and inaccurate. This one, however, treats the subject matter with the seriousness and attention to detail this wonderful music we call "jazz" deserves.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
A terrific book about a wonderful musician.
23 Sep 2001
Format:Hardcover
My biggest complaint about Ken Burns' "Jazz" was how many great musicians were ignored. People like Herbie Nichols, Serge Chaloff, Jimmy Raney, the list is almost endless. Safford Chamberlain's book about one of the most sorely underappreciated improvisers ever is superb. It puts in human terms the struggles that almost all jazz musicians faced from the late 1940's on in trying to document a music that was falling further and further from the public view. Lee Konitz has stated "I don't know of any other musician that realy surprised me as much as Warne did with his inventiveness." Mr. Chamberlain is an excellent writer, and I hope this book helps to turn more jazz fans onto to Warne.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
unsung cat
7 July 2002
Format:Hardcover
Mr. Chamberlain has done a great service for jazz musicians and fans with the creation of this book. One of the most refreshing points of the book (which actually sets it apart from most other jazz biographies) is that Safford is not scared to be critical of Warne and his associates, especially Lennie Tristano. The book only paints a vague picture of Warne as a person, but I interpret that as a way of showing how hard it was to really get to know the man. This is definitely a book that should be picked up to help spread the word about one of jazz' most important and creative improvisers.
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