There were but four major galaxies in the early jazz universe; and three of them--New Orleans; Chicago; and New York--have been well documented in print. But there has never been a serious history of the fourth; Kansas City; until now. In this colorful history; Frank Driggs and Chuck Haddix range from ragtime to bebop and from Bennie Moten to Charlie Parker to capture the golden age of Kansas City jazz. Readers will find a colorful portrait of old Kaycee itself; back then a neon riot of bars; gambling dens and taxi dance halls; all ruled over by Boss Tom Pendergast; who had transformed a dusty cowtown into the Paris of the Plains. We see how this wide-open; gin-soaked town gave birth to a music that was more basic and more viscerally exciting than other styles of jazz; its singers belting out a rough-and-tumble urban style of blues; its piano players pounding out a style later known as "boogie-woogie." We visit the great landmarks; like the Reno Club; the "Biggest Little Club in the World;" where Lester Young and Count Basie made jazz history; and Charlie Parker began his musical education in the alley out back. And of course the authors illuminate the lives of the great musicians who made Kansas City swing; with colorful profiles of jazz figures such as Mary Lou Williams; Big Joe Turner; Jimmy Rushing; and Andy Kirk and his "Clouds of Joy." Here is the definitive account of the raw; hard-driving style that put Kansas City on the musical map. It is a must read for everyone who loves jazz or American music history.
2015-05-05 2015-05-05File Name: B013V21ZVG
Review
