Re: [hillbilly] Workin' Man Blues (book) and Western Swing book
I'm interested to hear about that too; I've not read it--but then, it's only out a couple of weeks. I do know that the writer is a professor with a lot of non-fiction under his belt concerning California, especially lives of working class Californians, and that he even wrote a story collection about the Okies While we're at it, I'd mention that what I AM reading right now, the book "The Jazz of the Southwest: An Oral History of Western Swing" by Jean A. Boyd, has become available in paperback at the same mega-onlines and elsewhere as the California book ... This author, as the title suggests, has much to say about how Western Swing is jazz at its root, underappreciated jazz, and maybe underplays the country side in saying so...but there are many interviewsm, and much thought on the topic... She's unrelated to any other Boyd BTW--and a musicologist from Baylor.. .. Barry M. Has anyone heard of a book called Workin' Man Blues by Gerald Haslam (University of California Press). Since no one on the hillbilly list has responded, I thought I'd see if anyone here has read it, and if so, how is it?--don
RE: [hillbilly] Workin' Man Blues (book) and Western Swing book
On Tue, 13 Apr 1999, Barry Mazor wrote: ...the book "The Jazz of the Southwest: An Oral History of Western Swing" by Jean A. Boydhas much to say about how Western Swing is jazz at its root, underappreciated jazz, and maybe underplays the country side in saying so... And the book was panned for doing just that by some western swing expert (Kevin Coffey? Cary Ginell?) in a recent issue of (I think) the Journal Of Country Music. Coffey, in the most recent issue. Jon Weisberger Kenton County, KY [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.fuse.net/jonweisberger/
RE: [hillbilly] Workin' Man Blues (book) and Western Swing book
I only want to add that the effort has some value anyway--mainly by way of all those interviews lurking behind the "Oral History" part of the title. The tendency to avoid calling the country aspect of Western Swing country strikes me, in reading this, more on the lines of "I've gotta have an "original" thesis point, and this is mind, and bygard I'm gonna stick with it" than some serious preeejudice against country music...On the other hand. Ms. Boyd seems WAY more at home and familiar with naming, say, jazz violinists who may have influenced Wills or Bruner than country fiddlers; she just doesn't seem to have heard enough of those--or want to bring them up here. A worthwhile addition to the general, undercovered picture though, I think, if from a skewed point of view easily taken into account. Barry M. (Better include the M I guess; I've noticed some other Barrys around again!) "The Jazz of the Southwest: An Oral History of Western Swing" by Jean A. Boydhas much to say about how Western Swing is jazz at its root, underappreciated jazz, and maybe underplays the country side in saying so... And the book was panned for doing just that by some western swing expert (Kevin Coffey? Cary Ginell?) in a recent issue of (I think) the Journal Of Country Music. Coffey, in the most recent issue. Jon Weisberger Kenton County, KY [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.fuse.net/jonweisberger/
Re: [hillbilly] Workin' Man Blues (book) and Western Swing book
Hey there, Barry reads... While we're at it, I'd mention that what I AM reading right now, the book "The Jazz of the Southwest: An Oral History of Western Swing" by Jean A. Boyd, And the book was panned for doing just that by some western swing expert (Kevin Coffey? Cary Ginell?) in a recent issue of (I think) the Journal Of Country Music.--don Yup. And was also slammed to pieces for getting facts wrong, belittling country, etc. etc. Slammed hard, in fact. Later... CK ___ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
