From T. J. English, the New York Times bestselling author of Havana
Nocturne, comes the epic, scintillating narrative of the interconnected
worlds of jazz and organized crime in 20th century
America.
"[A] brilliant and courageous book." --Dr. Cornel West
Dangerous Rhythms tells the symbiotic story of jazz and the
underworld: a relationship fostered in some of 20th century America's
most notorious vice districts. For the first half of the century
mobsters and musicians enjoyed a mutually beneficial partnership. By
offering artists like Louis Armstrong, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Fats Waller,
Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, and Ella Fitzgerald a stage,
the mob, including major players Al Capone, Meyer Lansky, and Charlie
"Lucky" Luciano, provided opportunities that would not otherwise have
existed.
Even so, at the heart of this relationship was a festering racial
inequity. The musicians were mostly African American, and the clubs and
means of production were owned by white men. It was a glorified
plantation system that, over time, would find itself out of tune with an
emerging Civil Rights movement. Some artists, including Louis Armstrong,
believed they were safer and more likely to be paid fairly if they
worked in "protected" joints. Others believed that playing in venues
outside mob rule would make it easier to have control over their
careers.
Through English's voluminous research and keen narrative skills,
Dangerous Rhythms reveals this deeply fascinating slice of American
history in all its sordid glory.
