Lost chords: the inherent problem of describing music's ethereal art in book form.(Soapbox)

Whoever said, "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture" was obviously an exasperated musician. Whether it was Zappa, Mull or Costello (what a law firm that would have been), they were probably lamenting the inherent problem of describing the ethereal art of music in book form. Sounds drifting through space and time rarely fall into the net of words. We get books and articles full of "writhing beats, wailing saxes, screaming guitars, and pounding drums." It's enough to make me want to take up needlepoint. As musicians, we can only roll our eyes and hope to be rescued by a ringing cellphone.

So, like a fool, I set out to write a memoir of my musical career as I …