Blowing My Own Trumpet

Author: James Morrison

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It was a relief after reading some torrid and challenging books recently to come across this autobiography that was fascinating, amusing and delightful. For the very few people who do not yet know, James is one of Australia’s leading jazz instrumentalists and has played all round the world in elite company.

This book is as idiosyncratic as James himself. The layout is roughly chronological, but he groups recollections thematically as well (“Girls”, “Europe”, “The Best Jever”). Reading it is much more like sitting listening to a polished raconteur telling his favourite stories than reading a “history of”.

James on stage is a bubbly, infectiously joyful musician. He also looks anything but heroic: relatively short, dressed in a dark suit and with a bald pate shining in the stage lights. His book will surprise some as tells of his lifelong fascination with boats, and the various bizarre and even deadly situations he has dealt with. He has trained for and run triathlons; much more than most of us can claim, and of course, there is the music.

He does not hold back, those who want to know more about this side of his life. He talks about his own musical journey, the strange and wonderful situations he has been in as a musician, and reflects discreetly on what he loves about jazz and performing. As he has played with luminaries of the jazz world such as Ray Brown and Dizzy Gillespie the stories about the music and the individuals are engrossing. For those who want to know more about James the man, there are stories about how he met his wife, tales he tells against himself about their relationship, and even some stories about his children.

There is much in this for the Australian reader to connect with. James was bought up in country towns, and people of roughly his vintage will recognise and relate to the customs, sights and smells of the time that he describes. This is a great read for anyone who has been touched by his music, or would like to find out more about a very special Australian.

Andrew Lack