Ya know, you don’t have to be Marty McFly from Back to the Future to do time travelling. There’s a new book out that is the memoir of the late Timme Rosenkrantz, who was a Danish journalist, music producer and broadcaster who came to America in the early part of the Depression and immersed himself in the New York jazz scene. Adapted and edited by Fradley Hamilton Garner into a collection of vignettes, the book is divided into “Timme’” initial introduction to the world of 1934 Harlem, and then the rest of his career up to his death in 1969.
Most fascinating is simply the fact that he was “there” to see musicians like Don Redman, Chick Web, Benny Carter, Fats Waller and Adrian Rollini and be able to receive and deliver a completely different perspective of what was then called “Hot Jazz.” Chapters include a date with Billie Holiday, his first meeting with Benny Goodman and a meeting with the Dutch Schultz mob. This was an era when musicians were NOT graduates of the Berklee School of Music or of some hoity toity conservatory. The characters were, well, CHARACTERS, making this an wonderful insight into the soul and vibe of the music that we love so well. Intriguing tid bits that make a fun time of reading and reflecting of a style and attitude that has sadly gone by.
The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.