Please join KPFA Radio at The Elbo Room on Thursday, September 1st at 6:00 pm when we welcome New York Times bestselling author T.J. English to celebrate the release of his most recent book, Dangerous Rhythms: Jazz and the Underworld. This live, in-person event will be hosted by KPFA’s Kevin H.
“A swinging, blood-drenched history about the symbiotic relationship between jazz and organized crime through much of the 20th century… this is entertaining, vivid cultural history.” Kirkus Reviews
“This brilliant and courageous book lays bare an underside of our great American classical music—jazz—we must reckon with. Don’t miss it!” Dr. Cornel West
“One of the best books on jazz history yet written.” Ishmael Reed, Author of Mumbo Jumbo
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.
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.
T.J. English is a noted journalist, screenwriter, and author of the New York Times bestsellers Havana Nocturne, Paddy Whacked, The Savage City, and Where the Bodies Were Buried. He also authored The Westies, a national bestseller, Born to Kill, which was nominated for an Edgar Award, and The Corporation. His journalism has appeared in Esquire, Playboy, and New York magazine, among other publications. His screenwriting credits include episodes for the television dramas NYPD Blue and Homicide, for which he was awarded the Humanitas Prize. He lives in New York City.
Kevin Hunsanger is KPFA’s development director and was previously the co-owner of Green Apple Books in San Francisco. Kevin was “The Book Guy” on the KFOG Morning Show during a dozen of its golden-era years and was a food editor at The Onion, was the Northern California Wine County editor for The Nile Guide and still owns about 3,000 jazz records and crime novels.
EVENT DETAILS:
Thursday, September 1st at 6:00 pm
T.J. English book release for Dangerous Rhythms: Jazz and the Underworld
The Elbo Room
Tickets $5.00 in advance / $5.00 at the door (discounted student and fiscally challenged available)
Get your tickets via Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tj-english-dangerous-rhythms-jazz-and-the-underworld-tickets-388345942167