Beem Weeks's Blog - Posts Tagged "jazz-age"
A Peek into the Past
With Jazz: America’s Gift, author Richie Gerber has created a layered and textured look at the incredible history of this uniquely American genre of music. However, Gerber’s book goes beyond the standard investigation. What we learn in this in-depth examination has more to do with the transformation of jazz at the hands of George Gershwin.
Gerber’s book is chock full of historical facts, anecdotes, and once-famous names that have been lost to time. He takes readers on a guided tour of the Gershwin song book, offering insight into influences and meanings behind so many songs that continue to enjoy popularity so many decades after their creation. And then there are the lesser-known tunes; the ones that were written for various films and other projects, only to go unused.
Gerber grew up in Gershwin’s old neighborhood. He understands the lay of the land. It is this personal investment that really opens the door, allowing the rest of us a good look at what many consider to be the prime era of the jazz movement.
The drawings of Jazz Age artist Miguel Covarrubias are featured prominently throughout this book, giving a wonderful visual to many of the stories, setting a mood that really pulls the reader into the era and those long-ago moments.
This book is a must for jazz enthusiasts, music fans, and those who appreciate history.
Gerber’s book is chock full of historical facts, anecdotes, and once-famous names that have been lost to time. He takes readers on a guided tour of the Gershwin song book, offering insight into influences and meanings behind so many songs that continue to enjoy popularity so many decades after their creation. And then there are the lesser-known tunes; the ones that were written for various films and other projects, only to go unused.
Gerber grew up in Gershwin’s old neighborhood. He understands the lay of the land. It is this personal investment that really opens the door, allowing the rest of us a good look at what many consider to be the prime era of the jazz movement.
The drawings of Jazz Age artist Miguel Covarrubias are featured prominently throughout this book, giving a wonderful visual to many of the stories, setting a mood that really pulls the reader into the era and those long-ago moments.
This book is a must for jazz enthusiasts, music fans, and those who appreciate history.
