BUT BEAUTIFUL A Book About Jazz

Lyrical, evocative writing is matched with a top-shelf performance in this book of vignettes on how some of the jazz greats practiced their art. With his wide range of dialects and exceptional ability to immerse himself in a story, Dion Graham delivers the kind of listening experience that you'll want to hear in one sitting and in the dark--a slowly unfolding tableau of moody characters and difficult times. The collection of semi-fictional stories provide an authentic-sounding picture of how legends like Charles Mingus and Thelonious Monk lived and worked. The dialogue-rich scenes of how they coped with life, managed their personal demons, and pushed the limits of a musical genre are unforgettable. Lifted by Graham's performance, this is an incomparable window onto the world of jazz in mid-century America. T.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2019]