Description
Even though New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago are ceaselessly thought to be the epicenters of American jazz, this extensive, upbeat compilation of jazz musician biographies details Wisconsin’s wealthy association the genre since its the inception of the genre in the early 1900s. Iconic musicians Bunny Berigan, Woody Herman, Les Paul, and Al Jarreau all hailed from Wisconsin, as have many other influential players, composers, and teachers. Wisconsin Riffs features these musicians side-by-side—from the world-renowned to difficult to understand regional artists—to portray a comprehensive history of jazz in Wisconsin.
Through meticulous research and more than a hundred interviews, writer Kurt Dietrich has assembled a group of musicians who represent quite a lot of backgrounds, ages, stylistic schools, and experiences—from leaders of swing-era big bands to legendary Wisconsin Conservatory instructors to as of late’s up-and-coming practitioners of recent jazz and jazz rock. For aspiring musicians, jazz enthusiasts, and fans of Wisconsin culture alike, Wisconsin Riffs presents a compelling, complex, and multi-layered concoction—identical to jazz itself.