Balliett, Whitney.

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Whitney Balliett was esteemed jazz critic. He graduated from Cornell in 1951, and went on to write for The New Yorker. For nearly 50 years, he contributed to the publication with over 550 articles, and many more unsigned. He is known for his non-technical approach to criticism, using artful adjectives and vivid verbs to frame the music. His writing was more poetry than anything, and reading it, one will find metaphors and synesthetic synopses understandable by even the most uninformed music listener.

From the description of Whitney Balliett papers, 1941-2006. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 712135547

American jazz critic.

From the description of Typed letter signed : New York, to Andy [E. B. White], 1968 Oct. 17. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 756050328

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf National Jazz Hall of Fame. Papers of the National Jazz Hall of Fame, 1983-1988. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Powell, Mel. The Mel Powell papers, 1942-1991 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf Balliett, Whitney. Typed letter signed : New York, to Andy [E. B. White], 1968 Oct. 17. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Whitney Balliett papers, 1941-2006 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
creatorOf Balliett, Whitney. Letters, 1931-1981, n.d., to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Charles, Ray, 1930-2004. person
associatedWith Dahl, Roald. person
associatedWith Gillespie, Dizzy, 1917-1993. person
associatedWith National Jazz Hall of Fame. corporateBody
associatedWith Newport Jazz Festival. corporateBody
associatedWith Norvo, Red. person
associatedWith Powell, Mel. person
associatedWith Sinatra, Frank, 1915-1998. person
associatedWith Toklas, Alice B. person
associatedWith Updike, John. person
associatedWith White, E. B. (Elwyn Brooks), 1899-1985. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
Jazz
Jazz musicians
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1926-04-17

Death 2007-02-01

Americans

English

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