A Jazzman's Tale (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781544648910)

In 1950 bebop pianist and trumpeter, Charles Freeman Lee, leaves the renowned Wilberforce Collegians Jazz Band at Wilberforce University, Ohio and heads to New York City to join the jazz scene. He gigs with pianist Elmo Hope, falls for Jenny, vibraharpist Milt Jackson's wife. He has many decisions to make.

Does Freeman get the gig and the girl?

"Well written and very entertaining."

John Murrow, Editor of The Riff

"Uniquely informed and informative, A Jazzman's Tale is especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college and university library American Music History and American Biography collections. A must read for all dedicated jazz fans!"

James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review

"This book differs in every sense. Instead of the usual narrative format, she opted for turning the story into a screenplay. But this one is certainly different and makes for an entertaining read. Quirky departures from the norm add to the enjoyment"

Ronald Atkins, Jazz Journal

"Johnson perfectly captures the tone, tenor and language of the mid-century jazz musician. A fast-moving, highly entertaining and transportive read, visually evocative, with language that echoes the spirit of improv. This book is a literary fugue in three parts"

Debbie Burke, jazz author

Annette Johnson is a writer with an interest in the life stories of musicians. She is on Twitter @jazzmanstale and you can email her at ajazzmanstale@gmail.com. She is a jazz fan and enjoys films and music.

This book, A Jazzman's Tale, contains three parts:

A. The Screenplay

This funny, well written screenplay is based on live interviews with the jazzman protagonist, Charles Freeman Lee in Paris where he was still gigging, hanging out and sharing his memories of the 1950s New York City bebop scene with his pals.

Freeman, as he was better known, is listed in the Jazz Encyclopedia by Leonard Feather.

It is an informative and emotionally engaging read that entertains as it informs. Freeman's authentic voice - jazz slang and all - jumps off every page.

Freeman left Ohio in 1950 to head to New York City to make it on trumpet in the bebop scene at the Paradise and Minton's Playhouse. While at Wilberforce University Freeman played trumpet in Wilberforce Collegians Jazz Band.

Other HBCUs had jazz bands - Howard University had the Howard Swingmasters, Alabama State University had the Bama State Collegians. The bands competed after intra-HBCU sporting events.

Many of the characters that are in the story - Snooky Young, George Russell, Ben Webster, Benny Carter, Freeman Lee, Frank Foster, Smack Henderson - were all alumni of Wilberforce Collegians Jazz Band, the resident jazz band at Wilberforce University. from 1926 until the late 1940s.

B. The Interview with his sister Professor Jane Lee Ball

The middle section of the book contains a verbatim interview with his sister about the jazz scene, New York City, jazzmen Thelonious Monk, Charley Parker and Elmo Hope whom he could call friends, encounters between jazzmen and law enforcement and amusing anecdotes from the jazz scene.

C. Vintage Photographs of Campus Life at Wilberforce University

As Wilberforce University is a pre-Emancipation Proclamation institution, the third section of the book contains beautiful, rare vintage photographs of life on campus during the early years from 1895 to 1965

Author: Annette Johnson
ISBN-10: 154464891X
ISBN-13: 9781544648910
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Language: English
Published: 03/09/2017
Pages: 194
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.02lbs
Size: 11.00h x 8.50w x 0.41d