Reviews for The geography of interwar Britain

The average rating for The geography of interwar Britain based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2009-01-12 00:00:00 J Stephen Tanner Wayne Shorter is out there. And in a good way. This very involved, very intensely researched biography was a rare page-turner. Even better if you have a collection of his music to listen to while you read.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-01-03 00:00:00 John Schwarz hmmm, i don't know, i never really felt like the writer understood her subject. the opening 40 pages offered some insights on this mad genius in the context of his formative years and musical experiences, but once wayne joins blakey's band, the book sets up this typical sequence of who played with whom, etc. etc. if you've read miles davis' autobiography, you are privy to a good deal more information on that period than is offered herein, but there is a reprinting of the letter that wayne shorter wrote to columbia records to instruct them to pay him the complete royalties on sanctuary, which appeared on bitches' brew. (miles had asked for partial composer royalties). mercer tells us that wayne shorter is a mysterious man and one of the greatest living tenor saxophonists, which most of us knew going in. i can imagine that wayne shorter is probably a difficult subject to write about - the writer tells us how confounding it can be to have what one might term a typical conversation with him, where you might ask for some specific dates or important facts. like lester young and many other jazz luminaries, he created a unique world view all his own, his music is the sonic representation of that world (or worlds, in wayne's case) and his verbal language is as complex, colorful, and elliptical. i'm sure it is hard to write words about a man who is dwells so comfortably in silence. i guess i'm glad i read it - if i wasn't so tired i could probably name a dozen music biographies that are superior though. the sun ra book, forces in motion (braxton), the partch book, bird lives, ascension: john coltrane and his quest, morning glory (mary lou williams), and music is my mistress (ellington) are the ones that come to mind without fail. it did make me want to listen to his new quartet recordings!