Each of this season’s five books has been carefully selected by the book club’s facilitator, Dr. Gerald Early, Merle Kling Professor of Modern Letters, Professor of English and of African and Afro-American Studies, Director of the Center for Humanities, and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences at Washington University. The recipient of a Whiting Writer’s Award and a General Electric Foundation Award, Early is currently Editor of The Common Reader, a journal of Washington University.
Jazz St. Louis Book Club meets on select dates at Nancy’s Jazz Lounge. Located inside Jazz St. Louis adjacent to the Bistro, Nancy’s Jazz Lounge is a no-reservations-needed bar and lounge.
May 12, 2025 | The International Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Ladies Jazz Band from Piney Woods Country Life School by D. Antoinette Handy
The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, a popular women’s jazz band of the 1940s, has earned a reputation as the ‘best all-women’s swing band ever to perform.’ This revised and updated edition provides fascinating reading for jazz enthusiasts and students of American history, music, and women’s history. It is the most comprehensive and objective history of the band to date. Handy documents all sides of the band’s controversial story and interviews members of the band. She updates the careers of band members who remained in the music business. Accompanied by an extensive bibliography and many photographs.
While the books can be purchased anywhere, the official retail partner of the book club is Left Bank Books (LBB). The books will be offered at a 20% discount through LBB the month before and the month of the meeting, unless otherwise noted. All books can be purchased at their Central West End Location or on the LBB website.
Jazz St. Louis Book Club is of no cost to you and open to anyone willing to show up, participate, and have a good time! Light refreshments will be provided at the conclusion of each book club meeting. While we encourage everyone to participate each month, there is no requirement that you commit to read each book and attend all the club meetings. Questions can be emailed to Adaron “Pops” Jackson, Director of Education and Community Engagement, at [email protected].