Kurt Dietrich

Legends of jazz are not found exclusively in New Orleans, Memphis and St. Louis. Wisconsin has made its contribution. “Wisconsin Riffs” is a chronicle of the Jazz scene in Wisconsin and the state’s national influence. It consists primarily of profiles of jazz musicians who have or had some association with Wisconsin. Either they were born, lived, were introduced to music or made the Badger State their base of operations. Some are famous, at least I have heard of them, such as Les Paul, Liberace and Woody Herman, but many lesser knowns have sagas of their own.

To a jazz aficionado or historian “Wisconsin Riffs” is a gold mine. Tales of musicians, where and with whom they studied, performed, and lived will seize and hold the reader’s attention. Narratives are to the point without digressing into excessive detail. I am neither a jazz aficionado or historian, but I appreciated this tome. I enjoy listening to music, studying history and visiting Wisconsin. The text is long and at times I drifted into auto-read but was then alerted by something that sparked my interest. I had heard that Lawrence University in Appleton has a strong music program but these accounts illustrate its broad influence. Citations of locations such as Alpine Valley Music Theatre and Birch Creek Jazz Camp spark memories. The accounts of the musicians engaged me on several levels. Some got me to bring up recordings of the subjects on Pandora. Author Kurt Dietrich works the tales of performers into the broader history by references to the effects of the Depression and World War II on music, the involvement of musicians’ unions and their leaders in labor history and the influence of society on the musicians, their family stresses, substance temptations, well known successes and tragic failures. He provides insights into life in the bands. Some make their living out of performing but many need to supplement earnings by teaching or holding non-musical day jobs. These chapters relate whole careers, not just the highlights with which we identify the individuals. Some worked with Doc Severinsen, (who was not born on the Tonight Show), Morey Amsterdam (who had a life before he met Dick Van Dyke) and made appearances on the Tonight Show. The challenges of a musician’s life, is summed up by trumpeter Eric Jacobson: “(I)t’s like you have to be everything. You’ve got to be a teacher, you’ve got to be a great musician, you’ve got to be a promoter, you’ve got to be a businessperson.” P. 428

Whether have an interest is jazz, music, Wisconsin or just a curiosity about other slices of life, “Wisconsin Riffs” is a book that will move your soul and may even drive you to Pandora.

I did receive a free copy of this book without an obligation to post a review.… (mais)