Jade Visions: The Life and Music of Scott Lafaro (North Texas Lives of Musicians Series) [Hardcover]

Jade Visions is the first and only biography devoted to the too-brief life and meteoric career of jazz bassist Scott LaFaro. Known best as a member of pianist Bill Evans' dream trio, which included the still-vital drummer Paul Motian, LaFaro also performed across the entire spectrum of jazz in the '50s and early '60s, from the big bands of Benny Goodman and Stan Kenton, to romantic balladeer-trumpeter Chet Baker, to the free jazz adventures of Ornette Coleman and Gunther Schuller.

Little has been known about LaFaro's life off-stage until now. A private person, judged as aloof and even unlikeable by some who encountered him casually, he was already obsessed by music and the uncompromising pursuit of excellence by the time he reached high school. Jade Visions, written by his sister Helene LaFaro Fernandez, tells an engaging tale of their unconventional upbringing, along with their three younger sisters, by rather free-thinking parents in a large and affectionate Italian-American family.

LaFaro's short life was not dramatic compared to the well-chronicled meltdowns and often self-inflicted health problems of similarly gifted artists. He did not face racial discrimination, as did so many jazz stars of the era. He helped watch over his four sisters and mother after the premature death of his father. He sent playful postcards to his family from the road, and checked out his kid sister Helene's dates to make sure they measured up to his expectations. But on stage and in the practice room, he was, to sum up in a single word, intense.

Passages by the author describing their family life alternate with insights into LaFaro's prodigious musical gifts by Gene Lees, Eddie Gomez, Gary Peacock, Marc Johnson, Rufus Reid, Stanley Clarke, Herb Mickman, Jeff Campbell, Phil Palombi and dozens of others. The great classical soloist Gary Karr was also aware of LaFaro as he was launching his own fabled career, and relates how he was inspired to continue pushing the boundaries of what was considered possible on the double bass in part due to the example of LaFaro's innovations.

The book is written in an enjoyable, conversational style, and a number of never before published photos are included, as well as a complete discography, bibliography and archival magazine articles. Jade Visions is not only a snapshot of life as a working musician in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but also the intimate story of a single-minded young musician who transformed himself in seven short years from high school band student to DownBeat magazine rising star.

History has already passed judgment on his accomplishments and declared him a superstar for the ages. Christian McBride observes, "Scotty's playing was the bible for bass players...Jimmy Blanton the old testament, Scotty, the new." Almost a half century after his death, LaFaro's photo recently graced the cover of Bass Player magazine, along with a feature length essay on LaFaro's continuing relevance today by jazz historian and bassist John Goldsby. By the time you read this review, Jade Visions will be back on the presses for a second printing, less than six months after its release. Read it to the soundtrack of Pieces of Jade, a companion CD that includes rehearsal tape of Evans and LaFaro working out the changes to My Foolish Heart.

Jazz fans around the world owe Helene LaFaro Fernandez a huge debt of gratitude for sharing the personal story of her brother Scotty, whose artistry remains timeless.

............This is a remarkable book about a very special man. The book gives valuable insights into Scott LaFaro's early life, his musical education, his total devotion to his bass playing(often to the discomfort of his hotel room-mates on tour). It makes ample reference to his relations and friendships with many musicans and influences especially, Victor Feldman, Charlie Haden and many others. Also,rather eerily, following the sudden death of his father, he spoke of his belief that he himself would not live for many years. The fatal car accident proved only too well how prescient this belief would be. The book covers many comments about his playing and influences from some of the major jazz musicians such as Stan Getz,Bill Evans(with whom he performed for those magical recordings at the village Vanguard only days before his death) Ray Brown, Stanley Clarke, Eddie Gomez to mention only a few. I recommend this book to any aspiring musician who might be then able to realise how a combination of musical genius and total dedication enabled Scott LaFaro to reach the heights he did in such a short, but vivid life.

This is an excellent book on the greatest jazz bassist the world has even known. There are a lot of very interesting comments by the musicians who knew him and by other bassists who were influenced by him. It is very well written by Scotty's sister Helene who knows more about his personal life than anyone.
I highly recommend this book to any musician who is serious about his art. It is about an extremely talented and dedicated musician who's life ended much too soon.