These thirteen original essays from one of the world's greatest jazz writers draw together Gene Lees's observations on the craft of the arranger. Covering the field from big bands to films to studio backings for singers, Lees brings his characteristic blend of personal and inside knowledge, keen reportage and trenchant criticism to bear on major figures in the development of large band writing. His portrait of Miles Davis's arranger Gil Evans is one of the few essays written on this significant composer, and the majority of the other arrangers featured in the book - Kenny Wheeler, Percy Faith, Robert Farnon, Gerry Mulligan, Bill Challis, Les Brown, Johnny Mandel, Henry Mancini, Billy May, Mel Powell, Marion Evans and Roger Kellaway - have not been the subjects of in-depth portraits.

With a foreword by Jeffrey Sultanof.

CONTENTS:
Introduction
Come Back Last Summer: Kenny Wheeler
Music By Faith: Percy Faith
À La Claire Fontaine: Robert Farnon
He Fell From A Star: Gil Evans
I Hear The Shadows Dancing: Gerry Mulligan
The Pioneer: Bill Challis
A Band Of Arrangers: Les Brown
Mandelsongs: Johnny Mandel
Going Home: Henry Mancini
Bright Laughter: Billy May
The Worlds Of Mel Powell
The Man That Got Away: Marion Evans
Soaring: Roger Kellaway

GENE LEES is the author of twelve books on jazz and popular music and a three-time winner of the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award for writing on music. He publishes the highly acclaimed Jazzletter and is a regular contributor to a wide range of publications including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Jazz Times.

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