♫ Reviews of the book
Of course it is the trumpeter's four-year tenure with Blakey that is the most interesting aspect of his career and thankfully it occupies the bulk of the book, describing in some detail just what it was like to be on the road with one of the busiest bands of its time and the family-like bond among the group.
Russ Musto, All About Jazz Magazine
I thought I knew this man -- a great friend and colleague with whom I've often toured over the past 15 or so years --
pretty well, but after reading this memoire, my eyes were really opened!
Fascinating! Valery Ponomarev's skill with storytelling nearly matches his prowess with the trumpet,
and the content of his remarkable stories -- and of course his outstanding playing -- is rich, intelligent,
humorous, and naturally, always swinging. Enjoy this book, then go listen to his music!
Don Braden, Jazz Musician / Composer / Educator
Music Director, Wachovia Jazz For Teens, the Litchfield Jazz Camp
Visiting Professor, Prins Claus Conservatoire
My old friend Valery Ponomarev is the only non-American trumpeter that I know to fill the (big) shoes left by the likes of Clifford Brown, Kenny Durham, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan and Donald Byrd in Art Blakey’s legendary Jazz Messengers. But also “Paramon” -- as his Russian peers affectionately call him --
like Arty Show, Camil Saint Saens, Richard Sudhalder, Nikolas Slonimsky, Oscar Peterson, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and a few others, belongs to that selected group of musicians who also possesses the ability to communicate through the written word. In this book, he tells us, with humor and wisdom, not only about his interesting life and career, but also about the tragic facts of musicians surviving in communist regimes
where JAZZ was literally a four-letter word.
Paquito D’Rivera, Jazz Superstar
Valery Ponomarev’s story is electrifying and inspiring. Most of all, it’s living proof that dedication to truth
and beauty can and must triumph over artificially imposed impediments.
Bob Bernotas, Jazz journalist, author, and radio host
Finally, the world gets to read Valery Ponomarev’s story! The main points are that in addition to being
a fine trumpet player, Valery is a skilled storyteller and that his story never fails to enchant, inform and
inspire my students and that now the world will get to hear it.
Nina d'Alessandro, Professor, Faculty of Arts and Science, New York University
It's a fascinating, and unique story. I have had the privilege of producing seven of Valery's recordings since 1985.
Not only is he a great trumpet player and composer, but also an inspirational bandleader who gets the very best out of
anyone who plays with him. Just listen to Joe Henderson on his Profile CD, and you will see what I mean.
Dr. Mark Feldman, Reservoir Music
Valery Ponomorav's life story is a phenomenon brought to life as an almost fairy tale scenario.
His life has been one affected by a votive determination to eventually and permanently touch the spectrum of success.
His eventual success has not been unwarranted because his talent was up to every challenge, big and small.
His talent is as a stentorian voice that will continue to consequentially speak, invading the medium of the air,
reaching not only ears, but also down into the deepest grotto of awaiting hearts. Though the future will always
have an indistinguishable face, Valery is giving it a face of his own unique making.
Benny Golson, Legend in his own life time, Jazz superstar, the first musical director of the Jazz Messengers
As a virtuoso hard bop trumpeter, Russian-born Valery Ponomarev creates beautiful, expressive solos that crackle
with visceral, right-to-the-point, memorable musical narratives. As a writer recounting his own fascinating life
Ponomarev is also a riveting storyteller. As with his music, his words wring with candor and direct, unaffected emotion.
Packed with enough dramatic juice to fuel a Hollywood biopic, the Russian émigré’s autobiography is an invaluable
contribution to jazz literature. Beyond that, the trumpeter/composer’s verbally deft memoir, for all its deep roots
in jazz, makes for a good read for a wide general public both as a winning human interest story and as an invaluable
slice of contemporary cultural history.
Owen McNally, Longtime jazz and arts features writer for The Hartford Courant
These are not the only comments. There are tons more just as raving, from the best in business. There is just not room enough for all of them!
