Lennie Tristano: His Life in Music (Jazz Perspectives) [Hardcover]

It is unfortunate that a scholarly treatment of Tristano in book-length form has not appeared until now. Thankfully, the author's decade plus study on Tristano provides, for the most part, a thorough treatment of one of jazz's most enigmatic figures. A word of caution, though: This is not a biography, despite what one of the blurb-writers states. Shim accurately subtitles her work "His Life in Music." Thus the reader should keep in mind two important results of this focus. First, there really is not much depth to Tristano's personal life. There is definitely information that the average reader (like me) would not have come across before. But do not count on coming away from Shim's book feeling like you knew the real man--like, say, in Donald Maggin's "Stan Getz: A Life in Jazz." And that may be a good thing, as I remember having a difficult time ever listening to Getz in the same light after reading about his horrid personal life, especially the way he mistreated his wives.

The second result of Shim's focus is that she disproportionately dwells on serious musical perspectives regarding Tristano. There are 50 pages of sheet music of various Tristano numbers, which is great if you can read music, but rather worthless if you cannot. Also, Shim writes for people schooled in the theory and practice of music. Here's an excerpt from page 185, where she is discussing "Line Up": "The passage in III:1-3, starting with A major and constructed sequentially in 6/4, is striking in that the first chord of the song form is harmonically displaced, betraying the expectation for the tonic chord." Well, sure.

Although I was disappointed in not learning more about Tristano's personal life, Shim does devote a good amount of space to addressing Tristano's chronic complaining at his lack of recognition, as well as his blunt critique of the racial politics involved in jazz. Shim aptly points out on page 116 that "Tristano attributed the problems of his career, including the lack of public recognition, mainly to external forces instead of acknowledging his own choices." Indeed he did. But I think an opportunity was missed here. Had Shim dug deeper into Tristano's personal life, she may have been able to answer the question of why Tristano eschewed public performances while complaining about not being recognized. Shim's treatment of the racial bias within jazz begins well, but she ultimately toes the politically correct line, giving a free pass to the blatantly racist statements of Miles Davis and Dizzie Gillespie.

Shim is at her best--at least for the average reader--in the way she assimilates the countless interviews into the narrative. It's interesting to read various musicians reflect on Tristano and his legacy. I especially enjoyed her treatment of Tristano's students. Most of them appeared to have remained individualistic enough, thus defying the criticism of a Tristano cult, but Warne Marsh is revealed as pathetically slavish in his reverence for Tristano, even going so far as to mimic his voice and movements.

Ultimately, this is an excellent book, despite the limitations any particular reader may have. Shim is a scholar, and the writing style and the focus she maintains on her subject demonstrate that. The real pity is that relatively few people, even in the jazz world, will likely take notice of Shim's work, and Tristano's legacy will continue to languish.

Shim's book blends oral history, archival research, and musical analysis in a definite biography of one of the great modern jazz musicians. Though it is a book for real music enthusiasts, it is an inspiring read, especially in discussing Tristano's revolutionary attitude to jazz teaching. For all his critical tendencies, the pianist was clearly an inspirational teacher, much-loved by his pupils, of whom Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh are only the most famous. Anyone interested in the development of modern jazz should read this book.