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gjmaupin's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting & informative, if occasionally more dismissive than deserved.
jrobinw's review against another edition
What I read was great. I just have too much to read.
miramichireader's review against another edition
4.0
I first discovered the existence of this book on the WBGO jazz website (http://www.wbgo.org/) and I am glad I did.
I had always wanted to read Ellington's autobiography "Music is My Mistress" but never got a copy of it (yet). Just as well, for Mr. Teachout claims that Duke held back on a lot of things that make an autobiography a "must read": personal insights, thoughts of his fellow musicians, family, etc. He wanted to maintain his public persona right until the end, it appears.
I am not a musician, but I love all genres, but especially Jazz. This book never gets bogged down in music theory, and is very readable for the armchair jazz aficionado. In fact, I enjoyed listening to the Duke's music even more after reading "Duke". I read the ebook version, but I would like to get a hard copy to add to music shelf to refer to from time to time.
There are plenty of quotes from other sources: interviews, other biographies/autobiographies, reviews and such. Highly recommended!
I had always wanted to read Ellington's autobiography "Music is My Mistress" but never got a copy of it (yet). Just as well, for Mr. Teachout claims that Duke held back on a lot of things that make an autobiography a "must read": personal insights, thoughts of his fellow musicians, family, etc. He wanted to maintain his public persona right until the end, it appears.
I am not a musician, but I love all genres, but especially Jazz. This book never gets bogged down in music theory, and is very readable for the armchair jazz aficionado. In fact, I enjoyed listening to the Duke's music even more after reading "Duke". I read the ebook version, but I would like to get a hard copy to add to music shelf to refer to from time to time.
There are plenty of quotes from other sources: interviews, other biographies/autobiographies, reviews and such. Highly recommended!
jwest87's review against another edition
3.0
I'm still struggling to figure out what I feel about this biography. I thought it got off to a rough start, unleashing all his faults in the intro. Im all for exposing humanity in mythic figures, but Mr. Teachout seems to want you to dislike him. I am also not an expert in music and disceting songs in musical terms left me puzzled.
mjanemartin's review
3.0
I eagerly awaited this book. It's very well written and meticulously researched. No fault with the author. But I was looking for more "Life" of Duke Ellington...his life, his feelings, what motivated him etc...I would say this is more of a musician's book. There's lots of "he changed this from a B flat to a..." and he signed so-and-so to his band on April 6...(I'm making these examples up but they are indicative of the content). It's very factual and almost solely about the inner workings of his orchestra. In the author's defense, he states early on that Duke was a very private man and kept no journals, so very little is known about his private life. Musicians will love this book.
seano's review
3.0
This biography does the impossible: it makes Duke Ellington appear smaller than life. By exposing him as an imperfect man, it almost makes him seem like a fraud, who hoodwinked the world with a mediocre talent.
You need to water this book with Ellington's music. Only then will you see the immense talent. Teachout's book does a good job displaying the imperfect man, but a poor job describing his singular talent: composing for a continuously operating orchestra for over 50 years.
You need to water this book with Ellington's music. Only then will you see the immense talent. Teachout's book does a good job displaying the imperfect man, but a poor job describing his singular talent: composing for a continuously operating orchestra for over 50 years.
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