Ken Vail trained as a graphic designer and for 25 years developed his own graphic design business. The company moved from corporate work into publishing, specialising in designing highly illustrated educational books. In 1996 Ken Vail retired from the business to indulge his life-long interest in jazz. He self-published his first book, Jazz Milestones, which was critically acclaimed, leading to commissions for a series of Jazz Diaries which yielded Bird?s Diary, Lady Day?s Diary, Miles? Diary, and the two-part Duke?s Diary. Vail is now working on the new series of Jazz Itineraries and a scrapbook of the Swing Era.
Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Count Basie are separate 100
page books presenting a chronological listing of performance dates
and locations for these artists…if any of these is among your
favorites you'll certainly spend a few hours following their
travels with these books.
*In The Groove*
Like cracking a scrapbook from the '40s…plastered with period
photographs, newspaper articles, concert and record reviews…a fun
and contextual perspective for listening and investigating as well
as a window into the life and times of [Count Basie].
*JazzTimes Magazine*
A well-referenced scrapbook, a collage of facts and contemporary
reviews that is a pleasure to read yet visually satisfying, too...I
can think of few more pleasurable ways…to celebrate Basie's
centenary than by rummaging through this fascinating and cleverly
devised account of his life and musical times.
*New Orleans Music*
Anyone interested in Basie will find this book interesting and
invaluable…Highly recommended.
*Red Bank Special*
All three paperbacks make for fascinating reading, whether you
start at the beginning or read random pages....these book are
terrifically entertaining to read...
*The Mississippi Rag*
A serious study resource and an eccentric delight.
*The Jazz Rag*
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