In this collection of profiles originally written for The New Yorker magazine between 1962 and 1986, Balliett captures the essence of both the great figures of jazz and some of the lesser known but equally interesting players. The reader spends an evening with Duke Ellington, a day with Buddy Rich, and is allowed an intimate glimpse into the reserved nature of Coleman Hawkins. We follow Stephane Grappelli around on a visit to New York, get inside the creative mind of Cecil Taylor, and are introduced to Charles Mingus’ rude, funny, bitter, sentimental autobiography. Altogether a good read.

Whitney Balliett has been the jazz critic of The New Yorker since 1957. His books include The Sound of Surprise; Such Sweet Thunder; Improvising; Night Creature; Jelly Roll, Jabbo, and Fats; and American Singers.