Fourteen years ago, I started JazzWax on a dare from Wall Street Journal drama critic and friend Terry Teachout. And on the birthday of this blog each year, I traditionally take the day off from blogging to give you a chance to think about JazzWax and what it means to you each day.
If you're inclined to buy me a JazzWax birthday gift, I have just the thing: Please pre-order my new book, Rock Concert: An Oral History as Told by the Artists, Backstage Insiders, and Fans Who Were There (Grove Press). It will be out November 9, but you'll likely wind up receiving it early. It's a dynamic work that you won't be able to put down. You'll find it for sale in the U.S. here, in the U.K. here, in Canada here and in Australia here. The book is being published in all of these countries simultaneously.
I know it's hard to imagine a day without JazzWax. One way you can keep me producing posts free of charge is to pre-order my book. And while you're at it, toss in Anatomy of a Song (Grove) and Why Jazz Happened (University of California Press). You'll be supporting me and you'll enjoy these books, too. Remember, books are works of passion, from my heart to yours, and they make great holiday gifts. [Photo above of the U.K. cover]
If you've already pre-ordered, thank you. And if you just pre-ordered after reading this post, thank you as well. Your purchase means a great deal to me.
That's all for now. See you tomorrow!