It’s that time of year again, when publishers bring out books that look good under the tree but maybe don’t always read so well. The music world seems to produce more than its fair share of these gift doorstops. But here are a half-dozen we think your sister, brother, mother or Aunt Mabel just might like:
“Life Unseen: Tony Bennett” by the editors of Life magazine (Life Books, $29.95). When 88-year-old crooner Bennett was last in Seattle, he eagerly leafed through this book backstage, showing it to his daughter, Antonia. Makes sense, as it’s in part a lovely family photo album as well as a sumptuous document of his life, from humble beginnings in Queens to his illustrious status as elder statesman of song.
“Blue Note Uncompromising Expression: 75 Years of the Finest in Jazz” by Richard Havers (Chronicle Books, $85). The story of the fabled jazz label Blue Note Records, with studio photos and ephemera, portraits and, most important, the world-famous LP jacket art, groundbreaking not only for its crisp, modern design but for portraying black men like John Coltrane and Art Blakey with gravity and dignity.
“Kurt Cobain: The Last Session” by Jesse Frohman (Thames & Hudson, $45). Nirvana fans will be more than familiar with these 100-plus photographs taken in New York in July 1993: Cobain in ocelot-pattern jacket; Cobain seated, playing acoustic guitar; Nirvana goofing off. But it has an interesting text by Jon Savage, whose interview with Cobain that day is transcribed. A bit padded, but a good gift for Nirvana completists.