Jazz St. Louis is proud to be able to continue our book club for the upcoming ’23/24 Season! 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.
November 13, 2023 | Stan Levey, Jazz Heavyweight by Frank R. Hayde
Jazz Heavyweight follows Stan Levey’s prolific and colorful life, from his childhood days in rough-and-tumble North Philadelphia, to his first gig as a drummer for Dizzy Gillespie at the tender age of sixteen, to his meteoric rise as one of the most sought after sidemen in the world of bebop, to his membership in the Lighthouse All-Stars.
February 12, 2024 | The One: The Life and Music of James Brown by R. J. Smith
The definitive biography of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, with fascinating findings on his life as a Civil Rights activist, an entrepreneur, and the most innovative musician of our time.
March 18, 2024 | My Lord, What a Morning: An Autobiography by Marian Anderson
My Lord, What a Morning is a gentle and engrossing memoir, abounding with the tender and inspiring stories of Marian Anderson’s life in her own modest words. From her humble but proud beginnings in south Philadelphia to international vocal renown, the legendary contralto writes of triumph and adversity, of being grounded in faith and surrounded by family, and of the music that shaped her career.
April 8, 2024 | Mister Jelly Roll: The Fortunes of Jelly Roll Morton, New Orleans Creole and “Inventor of Jazz” by Alan Lomax
When it appeared in 1950, this biography of Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton became an instant classic of jazz literature. Now back in print and updated with a new afterword by Lawrence Gushee, Mister Jelly Roll will enchant a new generation of readers with the fascinating story of one of the world’s most influential composers of jazz.
May 13, 2024 | Grant Green: Rediscovering the Forgotten Genius of Jazz Guitar by Sharony Andrews Green
This heartfelt biography celebrates the life and music of unsung hero Grant Green, the St. Louis native and late jazz guitar genius who played on nearly 100 albums from the early ’60s to the late ’70s, but narrowly missed celebrity. Today his music has inspired numerous acid-jazz and hip-hop recordings and his legend continues to grow.
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].