I will always be proud of how the first edition of my Cal Tjader biography turned out. However, when reading Derrick Bang's Vince Guaraldi at the Piano during the first half of 2014, I instantly realized that the Tjader book could be improved upon and decided that a revised and expanded edition would rectify the issue. David Alff, my editor at McFarland, was open to the idea as long as I met two important stipulations: One, a healthy amount of new material must be provided and two, publication would be a few years away. Following a year of work on a collection of mystery short stories, I brainstormed about what could be included and the excitement increased.
For a variety of reasons, there were people I hadn't interviewed the first time around, Second, more questions came to mind for the former Tjader colleagues I mention in the next paragraph. Third, even though a tremendous amount of research had been completed by December 2012, I, along with an assist from Derrick Bang, discovered a few print sources that yielded additional information.
All in all, the expanded edition will contain fresh anecdotes from bassist Eddie Coleman and Bob Redfield, excerpts of my lengthy interview with Tjader's lifelong friend Philip Smith, as well as revelations from former sidemen Carl Burnett and Stan Gilbert and one-time Concord Records producer Frank Dorritie. Moreover, my new research revealed more Tjader interviews, including, to my knowledge, the earliest one in his career; more of San Francisco Chronicle music critic Ralph J. Gleason's early coverage of Tjader and ultimate disinterest in the progression of his career, additional gigs––many with background information and or other specific details––and bonus photos.
