'[a] collection that strikingly illuminates the jazz life' Los Angeles Daily News
'Perceptive, witty, personalized essays by an insider provide an affectionate look at the jazz world and its performers that is sure to please the afficionado.' Booklist
'one of the masterpieces on jazz by the best jazz essayist there is' Booklist
'filled with perceptive observations and richly entertaining tales of the jazz scene ... Wit and insight abound in this very readable book.' Washington News
'a welcome jazz paperback publication' Beat Scene
'Lees, well-known as a music critic and songwriter in America, met many of the great names in jazz in its comforting depths. Here he draws on his close acquaintanceship with some of them - Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, among others - to produce a series of entertaining articles about the men and their music. Lees is a seasoned reporter with an extensive knowledge of jazz and most of his subjects are colourful enough to make the book enjoyable reading even for those who know little about the music.' Sunday Times
'A thoroughly enjoyable book, painting jazzmen as hard-working, keen-thinking experts, who enjoy what they do and, as much as anybody else, love a good laugh. By getting to know the players so well, so much more about what they do falls into place.' Q
'Lees is a seasoned reporter with an extensive knowledge of jazz and most of his subjects are colourful enough to make the book enjoyable reading even for those who know little about the music.' Sunday Times
'Lees is a seasoned reporter with an extensive knowledge of jazz and most of his subjects are colourful enough to make the book enjoyable reading even for those who know little about the music.' The Observer
'Vivid portraits of the musicians who frequented this famous New York club in the 60's.' Jazzwise
