Herbie Nichols

I am ashamed to admit I know very little about Herbie Nichols, one of the more interesting figures in 1950s jazz but never was celebrated or recognized for his greatness during his life. According to A.B. Spellman, Nichols was often trapped playing with Dixieland revival groups instead of pursuing the music of his heart. Spellman's excellent Four Lives goes into great detail on the tragedy of Nichols and the limitations imposed on jazz in general during the 1960s, especially discriminatory cabaret card laws, record company exploitation of musicians, and racism in the jazz magazines and criticism. Highly recommended is the chapter on Ornette Coleman and his experience in the South and California.