Trumpet Resources: Books

An online video via OhioLINK, covering from his roots to his legendary stutus as the cofounder of modern jazz.

Discusses Miles Davis' music of the late 1960s-early 1970s, with commentary from musicians Chick Corea, Carlos Santana, Joni Mitchell and others; also includes Davis's complete Aug. 29, 1970 performance at the Isle of Wight.

Peter J. Levinson, who knew Harry James personally, has written a revealing biography of this jazz icon, based on nearly 200 interviews with musicians and friends. Harry James led a truly colorful life, and inTrumpet BluesLevinson captures it all. Beginning with James's childhood in a traveling circus, we follow the young trumpeter's meteoric rise in the 1930s and witness his electrifying performances with the Benny Goodman Orchestra. We see how James formed his own band in 1939, an incubator for many pop music stars of the 1940s and '50s, including Frank Sinatra, Connie Haines, Dick Haymes, Helen Forrest, and Kitty Kallen.

Noted jazz trumpeter Coleman here presents his memoirs, translated from a French edition published in 1981. He chronicles his musical experiences from his debut at the Harlem Savoy Ballroom in 1927 to his recording sessions in the 1970s, highlighting his work with such jazz greats as Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter, and Sidney Bechet. In a few instances, Coleman departs from his meticulous detailing of musicians, clubs, and concert dates to describe the racism he encountered during his travels thoughout the United States before permanently migrating to France.