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Synopsis
Pretty much the next best thing to talking with the great man in person, this collection of Count Basie's reminiscences, from his early days on the black entertainment circuit to his later worldwide triumphs, is packed with stories of legendary names, musical triumphs, hotels both flea-infested and luxurious, and hardship and plenty, all recounted with a folksy simplicity that disguises the tenacious yet diplomatic nature of a lifelong bandleader. Basie has a natural way with words, and draws the reader in with the immediacy of his scene-setting imagery, such as his story of the first time he heard a big band--the Blue Devils, with Walter Page and Jimmy Rushing--hung over, in his underwear, on a sweltering hot Oklahoma morning. While there's about as much introspection here as you'd expect from a musician who spent his life devoted to building and maintaining one of the 20th century's finest big bands, GOOD MORNING BLUES is a plainly written, honestly told journey through the memories of one of the era's most celebrated jazz composers.
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