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Jazz Singing

America's Great Voices From Bessie Smith to Bebop and Beyond
Jul 24, 2004GingerKaren rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
If you are looking for a jazzy big book on just about everybody who is anybody in Jazz then look no further. A miraculous blend of discography, and biography the chapters are often comparisons like Mr. Satch and Mr. Cros. Friedman is very well versed in the medium and includes some of my favorites like Kay Starr and Jack Teagarden. His wit is readily available to the reader when he truly dislikes a performer or group. This is very evident by his comments about the Ink Spots, one I do like listening to! He says at one point in describing their aptitude in imitating band instruments in their music: They ran it so far into the ground that they struck oil, lucking into a commercial success that resulted in decades of big time gigs and recordings by any number of Ink Spot groups - sort of a McDonald''s franchise of bad music. Still I can appreciate the humor; I have never been able to listen to the Ink Spots non-stop myself!