"He was 'a jazz historian and critic known for his pugnacious, highly personal essays and biographies of such jazz greats as Oscar Peterson, Woody Herman and Johnny Mercer.' He was also a lyricist and composer and 'had the distinction of collaborating with a pope: He translated poems written by Pope John Paul II when the latter was a Polish priest named Karol Wojtyla.'
Fascinating! I have never heard of this guy and he co-wrote "Waltz for Debby" with Bill Evans. He translated poems by the Pope that became a song cycle sung by none other than Sarah Vaughan. He edited Down Beat. I'll have to check out his pieces.
Even when I disagreed with him, what he had written was worth reading.
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