My pal and partner in firecat projects, stan klein, is the guy who gave me the baroness book, three wishes, a marvelous collection of littleseen photographs of some of jazzs greatest that are sometimes startling in their intimacy. Nov 17, 2015 authorcriticjazz pianist ted gioias latest book. The jazz baroness lives catherine conway honig scene4. The true story of a british heiresss love for jazz genius thelonious monk. The moving story of the relationship between nica and monk, monks wife nellie and the rest of the monk family, fills much of kastins book. The search for nica, the rebellious rothschild by hannah rothschild. As the jazz baroness on the music scene for over three decades, more than likely she. The life and legend of the jazz baroness kastin, david on.
Her documentary features have appeared on the bbc, hbo and at film festivals including telluride, the. The baroness by hannah rothschild jazz history online. She was a british rothschild, her family rich, powerful, influential. The life and legend of the jazz baroness by david kastin available from rakuten kobo. Jun 01, 2012 in later years she arranged to meet nica in new york and was given the full jazz baroness treatment. The subtitle of the book is the search for nica, rebellious rothschild and jazz s secret muse, and the book focuses much more on the first half of that title than the second. She has written for british vanity fair, vogue, the independent and the spectator. The baroness the search for nica, the rebellious rothschild by adriana carcu, published on march 17, 20 at all about jazz. Beautiful, romantic and spirited, pannonica, known as nica, named aft. In the novel, morrison uses a device which is akin to the way jazz itself is played the result is a richly complex, sensuously conveyed. Nicas dream the life and legend of the jazz baroness by chris may, published on january 6, 2012 at all about jazz. She is sometimes referred to as the bebop baroness or jazz baroness because of her patronage of. Apr 21, 2012 hannah rothschild has written the extraordinary story of her great aunt nica, the jazz baroness who ran away from a life of privilege for the love of american jazz genius thelonious monk. The story of baroness kathleen annie pannonica nica.
In 1951 the beautiful married mother of five left home and went to new york in search of the man who wrote round midnight. The subtitle of the book is the search for nica, rebellious rothschild and jazzs secret muse, and the book focuses much more on the first half of that title than the second. David kastin describes the life of the rothschild heiress and jazz enthusiast who moved to manhattan and began hosting latenight jam sessions, socializing with beat poets and made headlines when charlie parker. Jan 01, 2012 i wanted to like this book a lot more than i did. The first biography of the legendary rothschild heiress who reigned as new yorks jazz baroness. But the source of her extraordinarily deep bond with jazz musicians remains elusive. Part musical odyssey, part dazzling love story the baroness. The autobiography, like the man himself, holds nothing back. Now, providing another side of the story is the baroness by hannah rothschild, the acclaimed documentarian who happens to be the greatniece of her book. The drugs belong to monk, but pannonica protects him by saying they are hers. In 2008, a fascinating document of jazz history was revealed to the public.
Based on interviews with musicians, family members, historians, and artists, david kastins probing biography unwraps the life of this enigmatic figure and. Dec 04, 20 hannah rothschild is a writer and film director. The jazz ear will be a permanent part of learning how to listen inside the musicians playing. Her biography, the baroness, was published in 2012 in the uk, us and twelve other territories. Nicas dream traces the story of a fascinating woman across her thirtyyear reign as the jazz baroness, but it also explores a transformative era in twentiethcentury american culture.
The search for nica, the rebellious rothschild and jazzs secret muse. The baroness the search for nica, the rebellious rothschild book. Hannah rothschild cbe is a british writer, documentary filmmaker, businesswoman and philanthropist. The life and legend of the jazz baroness, a wellwritten and engaging volume that nevertheless sometimes frustrates in the manner in which it occasionally sidelines the baroness, rendering her a supporting player in her own story. While it recounts a fascinating life, nicas dream addresses the history of jazz and midcentury modernism, which encompassed all the arts. She conceived and directed the jazz baroness, a film about her greataunt and thelonious monk, which was broadcast by bbc and hbo in 2009. Jul 19, 2011 close overlay buy featured book title nicas dream subtitle the life and legend of the jazz baroness author david kastin.
The jazz baroness 2008 documentary by hannah rothschild. Oct 19, 2008 the book offers more concrete information about the baroness than has ever before appeared between covers. Jazz was morrisons most recently published work when she was awarded the 1993 nobel prize for literature. The jazz baroness captures the longing elicited by jazz, and its appeal. The book offers more concrete information about the baroness than has ever before appeared between covers. The search for nica the rebellious rothschild by hannah rothschild is an excellent read, documenting pannonica rothcshilds introduction to jazz and her relationship with thelonius. The best jazz books of all time biographies of the jazz greats. David kastin has wisely chosen her as the subject of his book nicas dream. One day pannonica, in the company of jazz composer thelonious monk, is arrested for drug possession. Like many of the best jazz history books, this was written by the musician himself. The book s final narrator is widely believed to be morrison or perhaps the book itself. This is one of the things that jazz, as many women from that time had to endure. Both this wellresearched book and film are by nicas great niece hannah rothschild.
The baroness greatniece hannah has researched nicas story for radio and television documentaries, and has now put her findings in book form. I need the book in front of me because there was about 400 of them. An intimate look at jazz greats, compiled by her granddaughter including her most candid photography and answers to her playful question what are your three wishes. Nica, the jazz baroness who ran away from a life of privilege for the love of. She would like to be a crime reporter, but she is stuck as a society reporter because she is a woman. David kastin introduces an impressive array of themes and threads that convey the richness of the. The life and legend of the jazz baroness, by david kastin. Her documentary features have appeared on the bbc, hbo and at film festivals including telluride, the london film festival and sheffield. John coltrane rarely told his quartet what to do, and miles davis famously gave his group. Hannah rothschild has written the extraordinary story of her great aunt nica, the jazz baroness who ran away from a life of privilege for the love of american jazz genius thelonious monk. After marrying well, she settled into a french chateau to bear children and support her husbands war career. A rewarding and exciting journey through the life of one of the jazz greats. In a new documentary, the jazz baroness, filmmaker hannah.
The life and legend of the jazz baroness, a wellwritten and engaging volume that nevertheless sometimes frustrates in the manner in which it occasionally sidelines the. The baroness book austin public library bibliocommons. The search for nica, the rebellious rothschild and millions of other books are available for instant access. One month later the baroness took over a popular funk friday nights and started up a hiphop saturday night at the crystal pistol. Born into the wealthy rothschild family and married to a french ar. A subversive history, is a rigorously researched, close to 500page travelogue through the history of music and its oftensubversive origins. Gaden robinson, the baroness the butterfly is the iconic image for survivors of domestic violence. It was the worlds best book clubs wbbc july selection. Nov 16, 2009 the jazz baroness captures the longing elicited by jazz, and its appeal. Her first novel, the improbability of love, published in 2015 won the bollinger wodehouse prize for best comic novel and was runner up for the bailey.
Beautiful and spirited, pannonica rothschild, known as nica, was born in 19 to eccentric privilege and a storied family history. Apr 17, 2009 contemporary filmmaker hannah rothschild tries to uncover the real story behind her great aunts sudden disappearance. Kathleen annie pannonica rothschild was born in december 19, in london, the youngest daughter of charles. In later years she arranged to meet nica in new york and was given the full jazz baroness treatment. Miles bravely details his struggle with drugs and racism, and talks about the various women he has been with. Jul 12, 2015 one day pannonica, in the company of jazz composer thelonious monk, is arrested for drug possession.
Hannah rothschild recaps quite a bit of the rothschild family history, quite an amazing tale of success against the odds to say the least, so that the baroness own life story is set into context. The jazz baroness 2008 documentary by hannah rothschild kuvo. I believe that she could do it if she put her mind to it. Nat hentoff, jazz timesjazz is conducted almost wordlessly. The butterfly is the iconic image for survivors of domestic violence. As someone without much prior knowledge of the rothschilds or jazz, i found it helpful that the author introduced the family and the main points of jazz history and major artists. The tune is dedicated to pannonica rothschild who became known as nica or the baroness the errant member of the wealthy dynasty who fled to immerse herself in the underworld of new yorks jazz clubs. Nannies, servants, governesses and chauffeurs attended her when she was a child. The book is based around the idea that every great artist has a muse that propels them. Nica was a true eccentric but also a courageous character. Butterflies are moths with better public relations. For those who want more we suggest that you also look at nicas own book three wishes.
Contemporary filmmaker hannah rothschild tries to uncover the real story behind her great aunts sudden disappearance. Nica, the jazz baroness, grew up in a sheltered pastoral world far from the mean streets of american jazz. Jazz wants to be like nellie bly, the famous woman crime reporter. If you are a musician, love music or are a musichistory buff, this is a book that should be on your bookshelf. In 1955 charlie parker died on a sofa in her fifth avenue. This book is very readable without embellishing or romanticizing any of the people or events described in it. Sep 01, 2008 in 2008, a fascinating document of jazz history was revealed to the public. The subtitle of the book is the search for nica, rebellious rothschild and jazzs secret muse, and the book. Ironically, the baroness wasnt nearly as close to charlie parker as she would be to other musicians and composers, especially another pillar of modern jazz, thelonious monk. She asked 300 jazz musicians what their three wishes in life were. The life of nica she cried the first time she heard thelonious monks round midnight, and proceeded to dedicate her life and massive inheritance to jazz.