Book Off!

James Kaplan and Paul Alexander


Listen Later

Two great music writers - James Kaplan and Paul Alexander - join Joe for a War of the Words.


Joe gets excited and takes a deep dive into both of their brilliant books, which are both about America in the 40s and 50s, both about the jazz music scene, but follow very different subjects.


'Three Shades Of Blue' by James Kaplan is biography of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Bill Evans - and how those three extraordinary musicians made one of the greatest jazz albums of all time: Kind Of Blue.


'Bitter Crop' by Paul Alexander is a biography of the great Billie Holiday, but told through the last year of her life - 1959 - which coincidently is when Kind Of Blue came out.


Both books are brimming with great stories and accounts from the time - they are meticulously researched - snd Joe asks both authors how immersed they get in their subjects when writing. They also give us some brilliant book recommendations as well!


THE BOOK OFF

'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote

VS

'Last Train To Memphis' by Peter Guralnick


We hope you enjoy the chat - which we've kept a little long - which may well inspire you to put on some jazz after listening!? :-)


Oooooh and get this!

For a limited time, you can get £100 off off any HD light and free UK delivery. Just visit seriousreaders.com/bookoff to claim your discount!


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Book Off!By Book Off!

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

12 ratings


More shows like Book Off!

View all
Front Row by BBC Radio 4

Front Row

129 Listeners

Books and Authors by BBC Radio 4

Books and Authors

385 Listeners

Bookclub by BBC Radio 4

Bookclub

229 Listeners

The TLS Podcast by The TLS

The TLS Podcast

184 Listeners

Backlisted by Backlisted

Backlisted

570 Listeners

The Waterstones Podcast by Waterstones

The Waterstones Podcast

39 Listeners

Simon Mayo's Books Of The Year by Ora Et Labora

Simon Mayo's Books Of The Year

68 Listeners

You're Booked by Daisy Buchanan

You're Booked

54 Listeners

Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster by Plosive

Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

2,762 Listeners

Bookshelfie: Women’s Prize Podcast by Women’s Prize Podcast/ Bird Lime Media

Bookshelfie: Women’s Prize Podcast

45 Listeners

In Writing with Hattie Crisell by Hattie Crisell

In Writing with Hattie Crisell

49 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

96 Listeners

Off Air... with Jane and Fi by The Times

Off Air... with Jane and Fi

144 Listeners

Sara & Cariad's Weirdos Book Club by Plosive

Sara & Cariad's Weirdos Book Club

62 Listeners

The Rest Is Entertainment by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Entertainment

835 Listeners