Goin' to Kansas City by Nathan W. Pearson, Jr.
Kansas City jazz thrived on the anything-goes vibe of a town on the make and the talents of a generation of visionary artists. From titans like Charlie Parker and Count Basie to classic bands like the Blue Devils and the Clouds of Joy, the Paris of the Plains was home to a potent style of jazz music that bridged big bands and bebop in the 1920s and 1930s. Nathan W. Pearson Jr. threads eyewitness stories from musicians of the era into a narrative history of Kansas City's distinct jazz--and the corruption, organized crime, and vice that helped its players pay the bills. Throughout, Pearson reveals how the great bands of the era drew on many styles to create a distinctive music that was among the finest expressions of swing and laid the groundwork for modern jazz. A portrait of a community of artists and a jazz history that's both intimate and expansive, Goin' to Kansas City tells the story of how music remade a city into a mecca for performers and fans alike.
This paperback book is in good condition with moderate imperfections to the cover. Pages are in very good condition.
ISBN 10: 0252064380 / ISBN 13: 9780252064388
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Publication Date: 1994
