Strayhorn would have been 100 this year, and one could argue that he was one of the great 20th Century composers. Certainly if you view his music and that of Ellington's as that of one man, which much of it kind of was. Hadju does a good job on the events and people of Strayhorn's life, but is weak on the under-the-hood music making and light on the extent of his alcoholism. Read it with the relevant music on in the background.