Goldsher, Alan 1966-

views updated

Goldsher, Alan 1966-

PERSONAL:

Born 1966.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Chicago, IL. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Freelance writer and musician. Served as bass guitarist on recordings by Janet Jackson, Cypress Hill, and Naughty by Nature; toured with Digable Planets; performed at the Grammy Awards, 1994.

WRITINGS:

Hard Bop Academy: The Sidemen of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Hal Leonard (Milwaukee, WI), 2002.

Jam (novel), Permanent Press (Sag Harbor, NY), 2002.

Modest Mouse: A Pretty Good Read, Thomas Dunne Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Contributor of articles on music to periodicals, including Bass Player and Drum!, and articles on sports to the Web sites ESPN.com and NBA.com. Also author of the blog, Alan Goldsher News/Blog.

SIDELIGHTS:

Musician and journalist Alan Goldsher writes about music and the music scene. Hard Bop Academy: The Sidemen of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Goldsher's first book, is a history of Blakey's jazz group. Goldsher compiled the book from more than thirty interviews with jazz musicians and aficionados, providing the fan's point of view of the music legend. Ronald S. Rush, in a review for the Library Journal, remarked on the book's insights, but noted that "though the writing is fairly lucid and engaging, ultimately, more could have been said." In Modest Mouse: A Pretty Good Read, Goldsher turns to a more modern-day musical group, providing an unauthorized biography of the titular rock band. The honest account includes details of lead singer Isaac Brock's less-than-pleasant reputation and personality. A Kirkus Reviews critic opined that the book was "well-written and researched."

Goldsher's book Jam is a novel with a musical theme. The book tells the story of two young jazz fans who would do anything to grow up to be cool jazz musicians, and how success eventually ruins their friendship. A critic for Kirkus Reviews noted that Goldsher's strength lies in his musical knowledge and description, rather than characterizations, stating: "With a sharp feel for the music and the sharks that feed on it, all this first novel lacks are characters that transcend caricature." In a review for Publishers Weekly, one writer called Goldsher an "engaging if somewhat mawkish storyteller who knows the music business and the details of life as a jazz musician, and he creates a lively and interesting band of characters."