NEW BOOKS:
BRUCE MORROW’S
AND RICH MALOOF’S “DOO WOP: The Music, The Times, The Era”, AN
IMPOSING AND SUBLIME BOOK, INDEED!
By Maximillien
de Lafayette
  
Nostalgia
at its best; American musical glory of the past; legends of the
golden era of Doo Wop and Oldies, come to life in Bruce Morrow’s and
Rich Maloof’s recently published book DOO WOP: The Music, The
Times, The Era. Lavishly printed, and written with depth, human
warmth and substance, this book will enlarge the spectrum and
dimension of our knowledge of yesteryears fabulous music of the
beautiful and innocent America. Although, the table of contents
lists only 8 chapters, the wealth of information and astonishing
varieties of stories contained in each chapter could easily and
elegantly feed a much larger book, with much more extensive table.
On one hand, the book is a sentimental visit to the good old days of
America, its fragile and beautiful innocence, the rhythms and songs
that entered our hearts and nourished our dreams and hopes. And on
the other hand, the book is a reflection of drastic changes in
tastes, lifestyles, music amalgamation, turbulent emotions, and
perhaps a warning. The new generation of music lovers will learn
enormously from DOO WOP: The Music, The Times, The Era.
Historians of American entertainment and music will rejoice, because
the book resonates with heart felt stories and passages of time not
readily available elsewhere. And the general public will benefit
from sailing into the immensity of knowledge, wealth of tales,
beauty of the narrative style and historical dimensions, the book
offers.
The
title of the book is illustrative and honest. It is de facto, the
chronicle of the music, and the times of the golden era of lyrics,
songs, tempos, honest inner feelings artists experienced and
described in their music, candor and innocence of performers, and
critical moments in American history, as well. Basically, and
primordially, the book places a strong emphasis on Doo Wop, its
pioneers, leading figures, legendary singers and vocal groups,
origin, development, biggest hits and even the most delicate nuances
that shaped its cache and characteristics. However, DOO WOP: The
Music, The Times, The Era, remains a giant prism reflecting the
four faces and four winds of American culture, contradictory social
views and values, political controversies, way of life, lifestyles,
aspirations, struggles, joy, national strength and pride, and an
evocative glimpse a some dark moments in American history, and world
politics.
The
book is abundant with photos of the greatest Doo Wop Singers and
stars of the era. Stars from all walks of life, schools, disciplines
and the performing arts; ranging from the small tube to the silver
screen, and from radio to the stage. You could call it, THE visual
chronicle of Doo Wop greats and their times. This is a powerful
book, a bright mirror of our past, a bridge uniting so many
convergent and divergent venues and avenues of thoughts and musical
dimensions…and above all, a huge lake of one thousand rings and
splashes of ideas, musical creativity, visions, songs, icons,
legends, memorable performances and eloquent murmurs that created
the beauty and majesty of America’s musical heritage. An imposing
and sublime book indeed.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
NEW YORK SUPER
ENTERTAINERS...
 Daryl
Sherman redefines romanticism
in contemporary Jazz!!
By Maximillien de
Lafayette
"She's sophisticated, she's
straightforward, and she can swing!" Marian McPartland “The
New York Treasure." New Yorker Magazine
Although
she is relatively a “new” leading presence of the new generation of
singers and pianists, Daryl Sherman has been already recognized by
peers and critics as the brightest shining star of the contempo
jazz artists caravan. Influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, Rodgers and
Hammerstein, Julie Andrews, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Joe
Williams, Mildred Bailey and Sarah Vaughan, formidably trained by
her father Sammy Sherman (A former Jazz trombonist in New York city
during the golden big band era) at an early age and fueled with
passion for music and singing, Daryl had to make her mark on the
world of music and entertainment, for singing, performing and
playing the piano were and still are a major part of her soul and
life.
 At
age of five, Daryl began to sing American standards and imitate her
father on a daily basis. "I think the first thing I sang when my
dad actually let me sit in with the band was, 'Over the Rainbow.' I
was about twelve." Wrote in her biography. Daryl adds: "As a
kid I was the one who embraced the music of my Dad, which was the
standards and jazz. I was the kid who was awakened at two in the
morning when my dad would come back from a music job." Said
Daryl. Upon entering high school, Daryl became involved with
everything musical, ranging from school small musicals production,
stage performance to school band and theater. And when she was not
on campus, Daryl would play at small events like New Years Eve
parties and try to get gigs here and there. "One of my first gigs
was in a neighborhood restaurant/bar, where they had some kind of a
top-40 band. The little piano sat above the bar. My job was to play
when the band took a break. I played things like, 'Misty,' Beatles
songs, show tunes. I got $20 for that." Nostalgically said Daryl
Sherman.
At
age of six, she began her formal musical training, but her first
source of inspiration and musical influence remained her father.
Besides records, her father’s training, radio, television and her
dad’s musician friends who regularly visited them and practiced in
the Sherman’s house wherever they could or would, Daryl’s home
always had a piano. And that piano loved this sweet little
angel-singer. "That was probably the most useful tool I could
ever have because it got me to do accompaniments on the piano."
Wrote Daryl Sherman. Although, she was deeply influenced by
mainstream jazz, Daryl will soon free herself from the bondage of
influence and create her own style. A grand and warm style based
upon melodic evocation, open and breezy musical arrangements,
harmoniously and affectionately delivered intonation, and most
certainly, a welcoming and enchanting stage presence. Melodies were
of a paramount importance to her repertoire. Daryl wrote: "I have
a jazz feel to what I do, but I just love songs that are melodic.”
This statement explains the reason why her style is the most
romantic and melodious Jazz style in the country. Daryl Sherman
might not be the ambassador extraordinaire of traditional Jazz but,
without any doubt, her Jazz cache and character remain positively
authentic and expressive through a most unique and unusual
improvisational Jazzy style; a style she so admirably created and
perfected. Her jazz is melodic, harmonious, rich, warm,
individualized and strikingly instrumental. Daryl Sherman’s Jazz is
innovative, silky, intelligent, evocative and nostalgically
developed. In doing so, Daryl has repositioned herself on the Jazz
world arena. She has added to music a breezier space and a more
humanistic touch to contemporary Jazz arrangements. Daryl Sherman’s
fabulous talent is a trilogy of an unsurpassed vocal clarity, a
universe of warmth and most honest inner feelings, and a superb
projection of what unites a well crafted musical score (quite often
based upon her own compositions and arrangements), a transcending
voice of one thousand rays of joy , enchantment and crystallized
dreams..
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_________________
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