[Dixielandjazz] Re: Jelly Roll Morton book

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Ivor,
I hung off commenting on 'Dead Man Blues - Jelly Roll Morton Way Out West'
by Phil Pastras, as I did not want to cut across any comments from my dear
friend Fred Spencer, THE expert in the field of jazz books.
We blow me down! He hasn't read the book either.
I, like Fred, have a copy but have only dipped into it.
It seems that Dr. Pastras has concentrated on two aspects of Jelly's life in
California in 1917-23 and 1940-41, and his association with Anita Gonzales.
Probably because  he had access to one of JRM's scrapbooks via Ms Gonzales
and her family .
The suggestion therefore is: why don't you buy the book (it is going cheap
at the moment) or get it from a library and then tell we DJMLers what you
think.
8>)
When your original email request came through, I went through the UK jazz
magazine 'New Orleans Music' looking for a review and was surprised when I
couldn't find one. Then again, it may be there and I didn't find it.
Prof. Phil Pastras is included on Mike Meddings wonderful JRM site, which
says something. 
The following is one of the brief reviews published by Mike M.
"Meticulously researched, including primary source material recently
uncovered by the author, Dead Man Blues is not only a masterfully written,
definitive account of Jelly Roll Morton's west coast years, but also a
penetrating psychological and social study of the man and the forces that
drove and shaped him."
      --Steve Isoardi, co-author of Central Avenue Sounds.
It looks like Fred and I had better find time to read the book.
Kind regards,
Bill.