As Serious As Your Life: Black Music and the Free Jazz Revolution, 1957–1977 (Serpent's Tail Classics)

The best thing about this book is that it reveals the level of sacrifice and commitment required to ma!e this type of music--music that is uncompromising. I'm a fan of many of the musicians discussed in this book, and I was exposed to quite a few names I wasn't previously familiar with and whose music I eagerly plan to delve into. Wilmer does a great job of showing us their lives as a whole, which enhances my appreciation for the sacrifices these musicians made to bring us music that is so filled with integrity and that contains so many layers of musical and spiritual depth.

I have listened to the artists written about for almost 40 years and read widely about this style of jazz. This book has great insights about the influences and development of this genre and has real, useful information not just the vague nonsense so many things I've read about music waste my time with i.e. " musician x sounded like dew on a flower on an April morning". Highly recommended.

Author digs "free" "jazz" and is well versed in its progressionUnfortunately she has some very incorrect things to say about Tony Williams which I am sure most people would find fault with as well

Dei molti volumi pubblicati e letti in passato questo è quello meno polarizzato sociologicamente e politicamente parlando . Non viene evitata una lettura politica della rivoluzione del Free jazz ma secondo me se ne quantifica un peso relativo . Le numerose testimonianze e interviste raccolte , che costituiscono l'architettura del testo, lo rendono comprensibile anche a chi ha trovato in passato questa musica elusiva. Un libro limpido come la frase di Albert Ayler : Mia madre mi chiamò ALBERT AYLER.... Io non sono ABERT AYLER musicista Jazz Io sono Albert AYLER e suono la musica di ALBERT AYLER ....

Lo compré para un regalo ya que yo tengo una edición anterior. Llegó al día siguiente en perfecto estado.

If you care about culture in the 20th century, black, white or any other colour then read this book. It is written in a very readable style with copious references and some pictures of the luminaries of the emerging black musical revolution in the USA. I think it could have done with more pictures but that's just me. Not sure Val Wilmer plays an instrument but speaks eloquently on the process of creating jazz. It has the air of authenticity and obviously she had the confidence of the (mainly) black musicians around her. It also reflects the turbulent and formative political and social atmostphere of the 60s/70s. A gem.

Superbly written history of a much misunderstood period in black music. Essential reading for anyone interested in how real musicians operate.

The condition of the book was very good, as described, I really enjoyed reading it