I have just finished the excellent ‘In Another World: The Four Seasons of Talk Talk’ by Graeme Thomson. It’s a biography of four records: The Colour of Spring, Spirit of Eden, Laughing Stock and Mark Hollis. It is beautifully written, an absorbing read and throws up fascinating insights about how these four albums came into being. Highly recommended.
What book have you picked up recently and started to read, to find you could not put it down?
Now Jazz Now
100 Essential Free Jazz & Improvisation Recordings 1960-1980
Byron Coley, Mats Gustafson & Thurston Moore
With contributions from Neneh Cherry & Joe McPhee
This came out at the start of 2026 and has proved to be an illuminating read by and for fans of free jazz & Improv.
Good thread - a selection
Raving Upon Thames - Andrew Humphreys - the 60s British blues boom
Beeswing - Richard Thompson
Different Every Time - Marcus O’Dair - Robert Wyatt
Easily Slip Into Another World - Henry Threadgill
The Blue Moment - Richard Williams - Kind of Blue & beyond
Thanks @deadloss and @BlueCanary
I am not familiar with any of these titles but they look like excellent reads. Thank you.
I wanted to learn about the trends in todays Jazz. There are plenty (too many) books about the giants of the sixties, but I found just three that try to explain Jazz today.
Freeman is an American critic, who has written this excellent book about contemporary Jazz
This has a broader picture of contemporary Jazz. It has some surprising and eye opening passages concerning the way Jazz is funded and how the scene works behind the curtains. This book is pretty essential if you want to understand contemporary Jazz.
His purposefully idiosyncratic selection of a few artists prepares the way for his main claim: that one of the fascinating characteristics of jazz is the way it is continually refreshing itself by investigating its own compressed history, and remixing old forms with current sounds.
Whilst looking for books about Jazz today, I get the impression from the booklists I found is that Jazz is trapped for the major part in the past.
edit:
I forgot this one, about the UK (London) Jazz scene today.
An interesting book, perhaps too centred on the London scene, totally ignoring the interesting Jazz being made outside of the M25. I did discover some interesting perspectives about the music coming out of the UK at the moment, although some interesting white musicians like Laura Jurd, the Leeds scene and Rob Luft are totally ignored.
Worth reading, but left me with mixed feelings. Only towards the end does the politicised romanticized mirror start to crack.
My wife picked this book up while I was spending money on a recent visit to Cymbiosis:
She was very taken with the sleeves chosen and the analysis of each and ordered a ‘pre-loved’ copy for less than £20 when we got home. It is great and highlights many things we weren’t aware of. The writing is opinionated, and occasionally inaccurate, but very entertaining. Worth seeking out for some high quality images.
I thoroughly recommend this, a different take on how Lennon and McCartney formed their bond and fed on each other’s strengths and weaknesses across the years.
A very interesting book that mixes historical detail with a good level of personal and interpersonal involvement - highs, lows, achievements, stupidity, arguments…..
Got it a couple of years ago and it made me realise that although in the 70’s I was very into music and bands, I was not really into the people (possibly a spectrum trait) - so discovering all the band member ins and outs was both enlightening, funny and somewhat disappointing…..
an interesting exploration of the music on many albums - some great information - but also a reminder that everyone writes from their own point of view and I love some of the tracks he hates….
I was hoping for lots of new (to me) pictures from the 70’s - but there was not many - gave it away.
Two books. One I can recommend: Miles Kington’s ‘Jazz Anthology’ is a collection of writing and wit, stories and anecdotes from within the jazz world. Fascinating read.
I am just about to start reading ‘The Drums’ by Smiths drummer, Mike Joyce so cannot recommend it - yet. I’ll let keep you posted.
I used to see Miles Kington regularly, scanning the racks of the little jazz CD store that used to be in Bath. Came in on his pushbike from Limpley Stoke ! Quite strong opinions on jazz, as I recall and he was very involved with the Bath Jazz Weekend at one time. Only realised it was him after his passing.
According to the sleeve notes of a Bill Evans LP set I’ve just been listening to, a young Jamie Cullum used to frequent the same shop too. Don’t recall seeing him but it was before he became famous.
Is that the jazz CD shop that was in a small alleyway off Broad Street, just above (or was it below?) Audience, the Naim Audio retailer? I had wondered why it had closed. It must have closed at about the same time as the classical CD shop on the other side of Broad Street. I had spent quite a bit of my pocket money in both shops!
Just ordered. They are some of my favourite albums, so I’m looking forward to reading this.
Hi @james_n
I doubt you will be disappointed. It’s a very well written book by someone who is both a talented writer and a genuine fan. Thomson’s love and appreciation of the material is apparent whilst also coming across as fair and respectful of the individuals involved. I galloped through it in a couple of days. Like you, these are some of my favourite albums and it had me playing them again with new found enjoyment and appreciation. I hope you enjoy it.
There is only one book you need. Every child should be given this at birth.
Where my journey started.
Yes - Broad Street Jazz. The original owner, Mike Sage, retired to France and sold up to a younger chap. Eventually he moved the operation over to a section of the classical shop across the road but it didn’t last that long until it closed too. Streaming was the culprit.
As you say, the little hut was in the alleyway near Audience. Very much missed (as is the classical shop) ! Must have spent a packet there on Blue Note CDs in the late 90s/early 2000s.
The Sound. Excellent band!
Good choice - I had forgotten about this book - Someone ‘went off’ with my copy about 30 years ago and I wasn’t very pleased and to add insult to injury both Pete Frame Rock Family Tress volume 1 and 2 disappeared at the same time! Family Tress volume 1 and 2 are also excellent reading.
Richard
A copy still resides on my book shelves. I still occasionally dip into the pages.
