Rhythm is Our Business
Jimmie Lunceford and the Harlem Express
Published on 1. January 2007
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-0-472-11553-2 (ISBN)
Description
Rhythm Is Our Business paints a vivid picture of the sights and sounds of the glamorous side of a decade generally perceived as gloomy - the 1930s - and offers a fresh take on the youth and dance culture of the Swing Era. This was a time when swing music reigned, an era when the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra became the hottest and hippest attraction on the black dance circuits. Author Eddy Determeyer traces the development of the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra from its infant days as a high school band in Memphis to its record-breaking tours across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The book unveils Lunceford's romantic yet ill-fated involvement with Yolande Du Bois, daughter of famous writer and opinion leader W.E.B. Du Bois. It also offers a glimpse into the mystery surrounding Lunceford's untimely death by reconstructing Lunceford's last day.
Reviews / Votes
Jimmie Lunceford has the best of all bands. Duke is great, Basie is remarkable, but Lunceford tops them both. - Glenn Miller ""The first detailed study of one of the Swing Era's most important bands and the first biography of its leader, Jimmie Lunceford. This is a most welcome and significant contribution to the literature of jazz, to our understanding of a vital period in jazz history, and to the music of an outstanding and unique ensemble that was emblematic of the Swing Era."" - Dan Morgenstern, Director, Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University, and author of Living with JazzMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Ann Arbor
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
20 illustrations
Weight
687 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-472-11553-2 (9780472115532)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Eddy Determeyer has been a freelance music journalist for more than three decades. In 1984 Determeyer wrote a seven-part series on Jimmie Lunceford for the Dutch Jazz Nu magazine. Determeyer has written thousands of articles on music for a variety of Dutch publications and is the author of several books. He currently produces the ""Holiday for Hipsters"" radio show for Dutch public radio.