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Notes and Tones: Musician-to-Musician Interviews
Notes and Tones is one of the most controversial, honest, and insightful books ever written about jazz. As a black musician himself, Arthur Taylor was able to ask his subjects hard questions about the role of black artists in a white society. Free to speak their minds, these musicians offer startling insights into their music, their lives, and the creative process itself. This expanded edition is supplemented with previously unpublished interviews with Dexter Gordon and Thelonious Monk, a new introduction by the author, and new photographs.Notes and Tones consists of twenty-nine no-holds-barred conversations which drummer Arthur Taylor held with the most influential jazz musicians of the �60s and �70s—including:
- GenresMusicJazzNonfictionArt
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
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604 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Taylor
1Ìýbook2ÌýfollowersArthur S. Taylor Jr. was an American Jazz drummer who recorded extensively as both a sideman and bandleader.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 10, 2024
Essential reading for anyone interested in Jazz
January 10, 2022
"Q: Do you sing for yourself, for the audience, or for what?
Leon Thomas: Forever! That’s the only thing I sing for: forever. I don’t know anything else; that’s it. I’m a song, so I’ve got to sing."
Amen, man:
Leon Thomas: Forever! That’s the only thing I sing for: forever. I don’t know anything else; that’s it. I’m a song, so I’ve got to sing."
Amen, man:
December 20, 2023
remarkable diversity of views here , a lot of questions still not settled that i thought might have been by the end of the sixties . obviously insane cast . a few obvious people left out who'd have been great to have (monk, wayne, mccoy, jimmy garrison, herbie, archie shepp (he's certainly discussed enough) (fortunately those last two, though interviewed a bit later, are in the black composer speaks) , but there's so many greats i didn't really miss those guys much until intentionally thinking about who else i'd have liked to have just now .. seems like an intentional , tho unspoken , decision to only interview black musicians so you're not getting like charlie haden or bill evans or anything either . anyways . some people come off not so cool (musically conservative or anti-political) , the miles circle is probably the coolest , but 4 stars because it's just such a unique look into such an important moment
November 6, 2024
This compilation of interviews is unexpectedly illuminating and moving. Arthur Taylor, a respected jazz drummer and a trusted friend to many of the people he interviewed, gets complete frankness and deep vulnerability from this roster of luminaries. It was on the cusp of the 1970s, a time when the traditions of jazz performance were seemingly being obliterated, when many of the scions of jazz were more comfortable hanging in Europe than their home country, when rock and the novelty of amplified electronic sound were taking over culture, and when free improv was seemingly dismantling swing. Legends had passed on and their continuing relevance couldn't be taken for granted anymore.
The list of interviewees is impressive, as is the array of opinions and outlooks among these key figures like Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and Nina Simone. Taylor asks some of the same questions over and over again and that's a great thing. He gets a wild range of answers when he asks "Do you play for yourself, the other musicians or the audience" or "What do you think about electronics being used in music?" or "What do you think about the publicity around musicians and drugs?" or "Does our music come from Africa?"
Charmingly, he always wants to know what everybody thought about Charlie Parker and Bud Powell.
A lot is said about jazz and it's relationship to life as a person of color in America through the 20th century. This is the most authentic possible account of what it was like to be a black entertainer at that time. I'd think even if the music was of secondary interest, people would still get a lot out of reading Notes and Tones.
The list of interviewees is impressive, as is the array of opinions and outlooks among these key figures like Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and Nina Simone. Taylor asks some of the same questions over and over again and that's a great thing. He gets a wild range of answers when he asks "Do you play for yourself, the other musicians or the audience" or "What do you think about electronics being used in music?" or "What do you think about the publicity around musicians and drugs?" or "Does our music come from Africa?"
Charmingly, he always wants to know what everybody thought about Charlie Parker and Bud Powell.
A lot is said about jazz and it's relationship to life as a person of color in America through the 20th century. This is the most authentic possible account of what it was like to be a black entertainer at that time. I'd think even if the music was of secondary interest, people would still get a lot out of reading Notes and Tones.
March 30, 2020
I liked this book and it's a must for any Jazz fan. I would have liked some more variance on the questions but overall it's a fantastic read.
December 31, 2020
I found this highly-recommended book a disappointment. I understand and acknowledge its importance. But Art Taylor's skills as an interviewer are so limited as to stifle the conversations with the African American jazz greats of the day. Just not much depth or insight.
September 11, 2019
This legendary book is a must read for any fan of jazz. Before this book, jazz was interviewed by white critics and non-musicians. Art Taylor changed the game by asking questions as a fellow musician, as a black person in America. Unsurprisingly, the honesty with which these musicians talked about racism was controversial to the white audience.
Another interesting aspect of this book is the adverse effects rock had on jazz. It wasn’t just a financial monopoly, it was also racial. Rock not only stole rock from black people, but it also killed other forms of black music. Take a look at the statistics of the 60’s and 70’s. Rock dominated the industry to a degree that is unprecedented even to this day. People complain about hip hop, but it can’t hold a candle to white, dad rock.
Art Taylor asks many other questions about free jazz, recording, the audience, drugs, and so on. These questions and answers were not so interesting to me, because they get a bit repetitive. Nonetheless, it is definitely worth reading, because you’re hearing them from the perspective of jazz legends. You will at least have a historical understanding of how these giants thought about such issues.
Last but not least, the interviewees in this book will make your jaws drop: Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Tony Williams, Kenny Dorham, Betty Carter, Clifford Brown, Ornette Coleman, and the list goes on. How can you not read this book?
Another interesting aspect of this book is the adverse effects rock had on jazz. It wasn’t just a financial monopoly, it was also racial. Rock not only stole rock from black people, but it also killed other forms of black music. Take a look at the statistics of the 60’s and 70’s. Rock dominated the industry to a degree that is unprecedented even to this day. People complain about hip hop, but it can’t hold a candle to white, dad rock.
Art Taylor asks many other questions about free jazz, recording, the audience, drugs, and so on. These questions and answers were not so interesting to me, because they get a bit repetitive. Nonetheless, it is definitely worth reading, because you’re hearing them from the perspective of jazz legends. You will at least have a historical understanding of how these giants thought about such issues.
Last but not least, the interviewees in this book will make your jaws drop: Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Tony Williams, Kenny Dorham, Betty Carter, Clifford Brown, Ornette Coleman, and the list goes on. How can you not read this book?
January 15, 2022
amazing
January 11, 2024
Required reading for any musician who has the privilege to play black American music professionally. A real look in to the development of the greatest art form to come from the US
June 17, 2024
Great stories of the great musicians who created, mastered, and teach us the history of our music and our culture.
December 21, 2024
5/5. That nigga Hampton Hawes got a wild mouth. Not done w all the interviews but I got thru the ones I wanted and I know I’ll return many a times to the book.
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March 14, 2017I’m reading Notes and Tones: Musician-to-Musician Interviews by Arthur Taylor. Art Taylor was a jazz drummer who used his access to some of the greatest jazz musicians of our time to collect interviews that range from quick Q&As to in-depth discussions about race, the evolution of jazz, and the creative process. As a musician himself, and friend to his subjects, Taylor captured an honesty of opinion and voice from each musician. The book includes 29 interviews with heavy hitters like Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Nina Simone, and Thelonious Monk. I highly recommend listening to each artist’s music as you read these interviews! —Kristina ()
February 1, 2012
this offers a good slice of attitudes about "the new thing" in the 60's - a time when the music was changing, along with america itself - a time when a lot of artists were taking things into their own hands - max roach, sun ra and others started their own record labels ... the music was changing radically - lots of musicians were leaving for europe where they could find more respect and meaningful employment, and right in the midst of that particular moment in time, drummer art taylor began interviewing his contemporaries, which makes up the stuff of this book. essential reading for fans of the new thing, along with jazz fans outside the sphere of influence of the neo-cons.
April 10, 2011
Hmm, I'm going to have to disagree with most of the reviewers of this book. First of all, I love nearly all of the artists interviewed - they are among my favorite performers, but I got so tired of the author reciting the same questions over and over even if each artist provided their own unique response. And the anger! I realize that these interviews were done at a tumultuous time in American history, but some of the anger seems gratuitous. I was also a little put off by the rather cavalier attitude displayed towards their craft by some of these phenomenal artists.
April 23, 2008
One of the great jazz books of all time. All the interviews are done by jazz drummer Arthur Taylor, and he pulls no punches with his subjects. Great reading, specifically regarding the racially charged 1960s and jazz's role in the struggle.
February 11, 2007
Philly Jo Jones, what a fucking genius. I hope I'm allowed to say "fucking". A must-read for all musicians. Miles Davis and Art Blakey are classics, too. Biggest disappointment was Betty Carter.
April 25, 2007
Great interviews of jazz musicians by the amazing drummer Art Taylor.
June 10, 2011
Some very interesting interviews with some of the jazz players from the 50s and 60s (mostly conducted c. 1970). Gets a little repetitive as he kept asking many of the same questions.
July 4, 2012
Indispensable.
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