Los Angeles, CA (Left Field Ventures) - "UNCOMMON SOUND: The Left-Handed Guitar
Players That Changed Music" explores popular music through the lives and works of these "wrong-sided" musicians, providing a unique yet surprisingly coherent perspective.
Seven years in the making, John Engel's 920-page opus is an exhaustively researched and richly illustrated collection of 150 in-depth portraits of left-handed mavericks and legendary artists from all over the world, covering such genres as folk, blues, jazz, rock music, reggae, pop, punk, metal, R&B, country, samba, ki ho'alu, rai, and gnawa.
Uncommon Sound is both an authoritative and entertaining work. It is the first book to look at rock music and other genres from this angle, and does so with enough insight and detail to captivate diehard fans, and enough entertaining storytelling to make it a page-turner for the most casual music buff. In addition to many stars, John Engel also talked to lesser-known artists, who contributed to the fabric of music as a whole, and have had a sometimes-profound impact on its evolution.
"This book is a celebration of music. It's about pain and triumph, struggle and beauty, individuality and solidarity," says Engel. "It illustrates the complexity of the creative process. By stepping away from the norm and fashioning a unique relationship to their instrument, and to music as a whole, left-handed guitar players symbolize the unique music maker in all of us."
Michael Leahy (editor, A-Lyric.com) comments, "Already by holding their guitar the 'wrong' way, these musicians epitomize the unbridled, non-conformist spirit of popular music. Engel has tapped into probably the broadest range of musicians to ever find themselves in the same book. His detailed accounts bring us on a series of personal journeys to the very heart of the music that shaped a century."
The featured artists include Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Kurt Cobain, Jimmy Cliff, Tony Iommi, Seal, John Flansburgh (They Might Be Giants), Beeb Birtles (Little River Band), Jules Shear, Elliot Easton (The Cars), Elizabeth Cotten, Albert King, Otis Rush, Babyface, Bobby Womack, Al McKay (Earth, Wind & Fire), Cesar Rosas (Los Lobos), Bill Jennings, Billy Mackel, Jonathan Butler, Dan Seals, Sylvia Tyson and many more. Mark Knopfler and Danny Gatton, two remarkable lefties who play right-handed, are also featured. Uncommon Sound is a luxurious two-volume set totaling 920 pages, housed in a striking full-color slipcase and accompanied by an exclusive 20-track CD full of rock music, jazz and other popular music. Boasting more than 2,000 photographs, Uncommon Sound also contains 150 pages (a whole book's worth) displaying rare left-handed guitars – hundreds of exquisite instruments photographed especially for the book in nine countries on four continents.
Additional info can be found at https://www.uncommon-sound.com/guitar_books.php
What the experts are saying:
"Vast, insightful, beautifully researched, and *fun*! This book is essential reading for all guitarists (righties included!) and their fans."
- Jas Obrecht, former editor of Guitar Player magazine, author of Rollin ' and Tumblin ':the Postwar Blues Guitarists.
"This book should be subtitled 'not just for lefties.' While it's fascinating to discover how much of our music culture has been shaped by the left hand, each of these profiles, like the musicians themselves, stands on its own merits. Whether you play lefty or righty, you'll enjoy the experience of this book."
- Walter Carter, author of works such as Acoustic Guitars and Other Fretted Instruments.
"Every now and then a person's love and knowledge of a subject combine to produce something that is altogether unique. The word 'unique' pre-empts comparative adjectives and often, as in this case, falls straight into the realm of the superlative."
- Andy Barrett, editor of MI-PRO magazine, May 2006.
"John Engel takes the reader on a surprising tour of the history and impact left-handed players have had. An amazing amount of research combined with a beautiful layout."
- Bill Piburn, editor of Fingerstyle Guitar magazine.
