But Beautiful

Geoff Dyer, author of But Beautiful: A Book About Jazz, is not a household name, but the jazz giants profiled in his book are: John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, to name a few.

Dyer’s book is indeed about all that jazz, though it is not just for fans of jazz—and you might become one after reading the book, especially if you follow the instructions below for “How to read...but beautiful,” written by my friend and sax man extraordinaire Claude Lawrence. Dyer’s book is rich fare for readers fascinated by writing ideas, coupled with superb execution of ideas. What he has done is written short biographies, really reconstructed scenes from life, of select jazz musicians in the style of their music. And it works.

You can read a passage about Thelonious Monk in his kitchen and hear his music in your head:

“He glanced up at the clock hanging from the wall at a surrealist tilt. Nellie had this thing about stuff being straight; Monk preferred things crooked and to get her used to the idea he’d nailed the clock to the wall like that….She did so many things for him that most objects in the apartment were a mystery to him and he saw them for the first time: the casserole dish, stained from years of use, the steam iron. He picked up her pots and pans, missing the familiar noise of their clanking together. He sat at the piano, building a tune out of all the sounds he missed as she moved around the apartment: the rustle of her clothes as she got dressed, water running in the sink, the clatter of plates. She called him Melodious Thunk and he wanted to write a song for her that sounded just like that. Every five minutes he got up and peered out of the window, checking in case she was heading up the street.”

Dyer’s writing in But Beautiful shares a quality of the best jazz improvisation: sounding dashed off yet really the result of practice and studied expertise, plus talent and inspiration in the moment.

I’ve been giving Dyer’s books as gifts for years, but never the same book to individual recipients, whom I then shame into reading: “Come on, I know you don’t like to read, but just give me three pages, right here, and by the way, the friendship is over if you don’t do it.” And in this way I’ve converted nonreaders into readers, at least for the Dyer book of the day. So here’s the breakdown of who-should-read-what by the man, because he has range:

*Paris, Trance: A novel of a young love story set in Paris and including beautiful—and realistic—sex scenes

The Ongoing Moment: Intellectualized, original, well-observed analysis of photography

*Out of Sheer Rage: Hilarious, navel-gazing autobiography by a procrastinating, frustrated writer

Yoga for People Who Can't be Bothered to Do It: Deadpan funny travel memoir/essays, with perambulations in exotic locales (Leptis Magna in Libya, the ghost town part of Detroit, Burning Man’s Black Rock City) and segues about architecture, getting lost and growing old, and doing drugs for the next-to-last time. This is the book to start with. 

The Biblioteca Pública has all these books, but those titles noted with an asterisk are not yet catalogued and on the shelves.

Yes, this is a rave review, because that's what you do when in the midst of a great performance-just as when hearing the saxophonist step out with an outstanding improvisational solo, and you applaud, and later tell all your friends.

How to read...but beautiful
by Claude Lawrence

Charlie Parker said that “if you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn,” and that quote sums up the book But Beautiful. 

Try a music listening warm-up before reading the book. First, be familiar with the line-up. Then, choose a favorite jazz artist. Listen to a track, or better yet the entire CD. Read the corresponding biography in the book, and you’ll hear again.

Here are listening recommendations for jazz greats featured in But Beautiful.

Duke Ellington At Newport 1956 Complete (Columbia) Also, any compilation

Miles Davis
Miles Ahead (Columbia)
Miles Davis Vol. I & II (Blue Note)

Charlie Parker Bird is Free (Savoy/Gotham) Bird with Strings (Verve)

John Coltrane Blue Train (Blue Note) Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (Impulse)

Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins
Classic Tenors (Sony)

Thelonius Monk
Thelonius Monk, The Genious of Modern Music, Vol. I and Vol. II (Blue Note)

Bud Powell
The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. I & II (Blue Note)

Chet Baker and Art Pepper Playboys (Pacific Jazz Records) Ben Webster Ben Webster Plays Duke Ellington (Storyville)

Jazz & lit performance

Claude Lawrence, saxophone
Athea Amir Marcos, But Beautiful excerpts
Wednesday, November 22, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana, Insurgentes 25
50 pesos

Claude Lawrence helped himself, friends and fans to happiness while playing in New York City clubs in the Claude Lawrence Trio before moving to San Miguel a year ago and playing gigs at Harry's, Tío Lucas and La Grotta. You can contact Claude Lawrence at brael44@hotmail.com.