Will Friedwald

Will Friedwald is an American music critic, journalist, and author known for his extensive writing about jazz and popular music, particularly focusing on jazz vocals and the Great American Songbook. He has written for major publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Entertainment Weekly. His most notable works include "Jazz Singing: America's Great Voices from Bessie Smith to Bebop and Beyond" (1990) and "Sinatra! The Song Is You: A Singer's Art" (1995), which are considered authoritative texts in their field. The Sinatra biography in particular has become a definitive work on Frank Sinatra's musical career and vocal technique. Friedwald specializes in detailed analysis of vocal techniques and arrangements, breaking down the technical and artistic elements that distinguish great singers. His work "A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers" (2010) provides comprehensive profiles of hundreds of significant vocalists from the 20th century. His expertise has led to his involvement in numerous music documentaries and album projects, including writing liner notes for which he has received multiple Grammy nominations. Friedwald continues to contribute regularly to various publications and serves as a consultant on projects related to American popular music and jazz.

Readers view Friedwald as a meticulous researcher who provides deep historical context about jazz and popular music, though his writing style can be dense. His book "Jazz Singing" receives praise for its comprehensive coverage but criticism for showing bias against certain artists. Liked: - Thorough discographies and recording details - Detailed musician biographies and career analysis - Historical connections between artists and songs - Technical musical insights Disliked: - Writing described as "pretentious" and "long-winded" - Strong personal opinions presented as fact - Dismissive tone toward some genres/artists - Dense, academic writing style Ratings: Goodreads: "Sinatra! The Song is You" - 4.3/5 (89 ratings) "Jazz Singing" - 4.1/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: "Stardust Melodies" - 4.4/5 (31 reviews) "A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers" - 4.7/5 (47 reviews) Readers frequently note his books serve better as references than cover-to-cover reads.

Sinatra! The Song Is You: A Singer's Art (1995) A comprehensive biography and musical analysis of Frank Sinatra's recording career, vocal techniques, and artistic development across five decades.

Jazz Singing: America's Great Voices from Bessie Smith to Bebop and Beyond (1990) An examination of jazz vocalists and their techniques, covering artists from the early 20th century through the modern era.

Stardust Melodies: The Biography of Twelve of America's Most Popular Songs (2002) A historical analysis of twelve American standard songs, including their origins, evolution, and cultural impact.

A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers (2010) A reference work containing detailed profiles of over 300 significant vocalists from jazz and popular music.

Tony Bennett: The Good Life (1996) A biography of Tony Bennett focusing on his musical career, artistic choices, and cultural influence.

The Great Jazz and Pop Vocal Albums (2017) A detailed analysis of fifty-seven influential vocal albums from the mid-twentieth century, examining their production, arrangements, and historical context.