“Luminous . . . Ben Ratliff is the rare critic who can hold his own in conversation with musicians and incite them to reveal how they think and work.”
—ALEX Ross, author of The Rest Is Noise
“Remarkable . . . The Jazz Ear is a must read. . . . Ratliff gives any music lover a unique insight to the exclusive world of jazz musicians.”
—The Idaho Statesman
“Ratliff is infinitely knowledgeable . . . fluid, inspired and, well, jazzy.”
—Fader
“With his probing, empathetic questions and wide-ranging musical knowledge, Ben Ratliff elicits insightful, profound, and revealing remarks from some of the most significant musicians of our time.”
—RICHARD BRODY, author of Everything Is Cinema
“In the jazz world, the ability to hear, conceptualize, compose or improvise with idiosyncrasy and sophistication requires big ears. Ben Ratliff is one of America’s best and biggest-eared music journalists. Mr. Ratliff’s questions often steer his responders from music theory to emotional response to sentimental remembrance, teaching readers how to open their ears and listen in new ways. For music enthusiasts wishing for bigger, better ears, Mr. Ratliff’s interviews trace crossing pathways to new ways of listening to and enjoying jazz.”
—The Dallas Morning News
“Ideal . . . a sort of next step up into the magic of jazz . . . the conversations can become existentialist or metaphysical, for the musicians are very smart and sensitive.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“Ratliff asked musicians to get together some recordings—not their desert-island discs, not their top five, just music they’d be interested in talking about. [He is] a passionate and incisive writer about music.”
—The Boston Phoenix
“Splendid.”
—Buffalo News
“Revelatory . . . Ratliff’s own ear, sharp critical chops and scene-setting interaction with his subjects make the artists come alive.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Each chapter brings provocative insights. . . . Whether you’re a seasoned listener or just discovering the form, Ratliff is a wonderful guide.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Ratliff’s book stands out. . . . [The Jazz Ear] admirably provides an unpretentious and reader-friendly window into jazz esthetics.”
—Ottawa Citizen
“[In The Jazz Ear], luminaries ranging from Pat Metheny to Hank Jones, drawn out by Ratliff’s sympathetic and seemingly all-knowing ear, give eloquent collective testimony to the wellsprings of the musician’s art.”
—The Gazette (Montreal)
“Admirers of jazz should be deeply thankful for [Ben] Ratliff. . . . The treasure of these conversations is not just their fluid and intimate manner but their focus on the recordings that had the greatest influence on the artists and their musical paths.”
—Library Journal (starred review)