Description
Book SynopsisAny listener knows the power of music to define a place, but few can describe the how or why of this phenomenon. This title showcases how American jazz defined a culture particularly preoccupied with place. It analyzes both the performances and cultural context of leading jazz figures, including the many famous venues where they played.
Trade Review"In Lonesome Roads, Andrew Berish has done scholars and fans of American music a great service. Beyond unearthing a treasure trove of information on musical and cultural life in the United States during the 1930s and '40s, Berish sheds welcome light on what the swing era's various sounds and grooves - both 'sweet' and 'hot' - meant to the people who created, listened to and danced to them. His interpretations of jazz's role in shaping experiences of space, place, and time for musicians and their audiences are simply brilliant. Clear and engaging from start to finish, this is an outstanding book." (David Ake, University of Nevada, Reno)"
