This is the true story of Louis Bannet a Jewish jazz musician known throughout Europe in the 1930's and 40's as The Dutch Louis Armstrong. The story travels from the nightclubs of Amsterdam to the nightmares of Auschwitz where Louis Bannet's trumpet rang out amidst happiness and horror alike. Jazz Survivor gives strong testimony to both the indisputable power of music and the indefatigable strength of the human spirit.

Jazz Survivor tells the story of Louis Bannet, the Dutch Louis Armstrong. Louis Bannet was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau during the war, but his skill as a musician saved his life: he became the 'star' of the Auschwitz Orchestra, as well as the personal bandleader for Dr. Josef Mengele and the founder of the Gypsy Camp Orchestra.

In 1954, Shirley Bassey was seventeen years old. She had just returned from a cheesy revue tour called 'Hot from Harlem'. Depressed, disillusioned and four months' pregnant, she decided that her dream of being a professional singer was over. A mere ten years later, she was one of the biggest stars in the world. She had sold more records than any other British singer of the day, and was poised to conquer America. Her latest hit, 'Goldfinger', was the theme tune to the year's blockbuster fil...

Clad in white tie and tails, dancing and scatting his way through the "Hi-de-ho" chorus of "Minnie the Moocher," Cab Calloway exuded a sly charm and sophistication that endeared him to legions of fans. In Hi-de-ho, author Alyn Shipton offers the first full-length biography of Cab Calloway, whose vocal theatrics and flamboyant stage presence made him one of the highest-earning African American bandleaders. Shipton sheds new light on Calloway's life and career, explaining how he traversed ra...

It's nineteen fifty-something, in a dark, cramped, smoke-filled room. Everyone's wearing black. And on-stage a tenor is blowing his heart out, a searching, jagged saxophone journey played out against a moody, walking bass and the swish of a drummer's brushes. To a great many listeners--from African American aficionados of the period to a whole new group of fans today--this is the very embodiment of jazz. It is also quintessential hard bop. In this, the first thorough study of the subject, ...

An "entertaining" study of the enduring concept of coolness, and the mix of cultures and historical events that shaped it ( The New York Times).Cool. It was a new word and a new way to be, and in a single generation, it became the supreme compliment of American culture. The Origins of Cool in Postwar America uncovers the hidden history of this concept and its new set of codes that came to define a global attitude and style. As Joel Dinerst...

The Bass Player is a novella about truth, lies, expectations, disillusionment, exploitation and how a young musician found his voice in spite of all that. Written by a musician but not for musicians, the story weaves its way around fact and fiction, drawing readers into a world where music can set you free but just as easily bring you crashing down.

Finally, a great method which will show you how to play the acoustic jazz guitar in the style of players like Django Reinhardt, Oscar Alleman and Eddie Lang - their style is characterized by a powerful rhythm guitar and a vital swinging single-note solo line. Due to the fact that it can be very hard to master the original transcriptions, this book simplifies this style without losing the essence of the original sound. Written in standard notation and TAB, the material can be played by stud...

Volumes 3 and 4 of the The Encyclopedia of More Great Popular Song Recordings provides the stories behind approximately 1,700 more of the greatest song recordings in the history of the music industry, from 1890 to today. In this masterful survey, all genres of popular music are covered, from pop, rock, soul, and country to jazz, blues, classic vocals, hip-hop, folk, gospel, and ethnic/world music. Collectors will find detailed discographical data—recording dates, record numbers, Billboard ...

This riveting book by Paul Balmer is the definitive biography of a unique musician whose life spanned the 20th century.Stephane Grappelli's astonishing career ran on a parallel track to the history of Jazz itself. Born in Paris in 1908 Grappelli was to become a member of the greatest European Jazz band of them all - the pre-war Hot Club de France Quintet - playing Violin alongside gypsy Guitar legend Django Reinhardt.Tat dazzling association with Reinhardt may have brought ...

No longer confined to basic folk genres, any mandolinist aspiring to a broader comprehension of music, including swing, blues, pop, choro, broadway, and even classical can expand his/her playing and through a working knowledge of jazz fundamentals. This breakthrough approach in mandolin pedagogy takes four uncomplicated fretboard patterns (FFcP) and drills a physical familiarity into the player's fingers, softening the fear of upper frets and prepares for the harmonic alterations necessary...

Yes, you got it right! The Great Depression Wasn’t Always Sad! There were forms of entertainment that flourished during the era and we still see (and hear) their influence until today! Jazz was invented during those difficult times. If you listen to jazz now, you will notice how light and soothing it is. Maybe that’s the secret for its survival today!