Judging by the first few chapters, this is a tremendous biography, completely sussed — profound empathy, political nous, and a love of the music in door-stopping measure. Looking forward to it a lot.

This fine American-Grain poet digs Elmo Hope as badly as he does Lucia Berlin (and he’s sniffy about Tom Waits). His prose here is clear as a bell, ranging from Bach to the Louvins. Warmly recommended.