Lost Chords: White Musicians and Their Contribution to Jazz
An authoritative and sophisticated history of white jazz . - Sudhalter s book (sub-titled White Musicians and Their Contribution to Jazz 1915-1945)was bound to be controversial, given the sensitivity of the race question in jazz as in everything else. Since the mid-1930s, when serious jazz criticism began, there has been a prevalent assumption amongst the majority of critics, of the innate superiority of black musicians, with whites cast as (at best) competent imitators.Sudhalter sets himself the task of redressing the balance but steadfastly avoids revisionism or anything that might give comfort to the great white hope element. He also takes as given the fact that the music industry was not interested in social reform and that its main beneficiaries were white.If Sudhalter has an agenda it is no more and no less than to urge that we listen to the best white musicians as powerful and creative forces in their own right and not prejudge them by making artificial and divisive comparisons with their black colleagues.As a professional musician and band-leader, Sudhalter puts his case with the authority that comes of first-hand knowledge of his subject. The book contains some fascinating (and often moving) vignettes of such famous names as Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and Jack Teagaren as well as lesser-known figures like Adrian Rollini, the Boswell Sisters and the members of the Casa Loma Orchestra. A recurring sub-text is the fact that many white musicians were themselves members of despised minorities, notably Jewish, Sicillian and Native American.A sensitive look at a difficult subject, immaculately researched and beautifully written. An excellent guide to the entire history of pre-1945 jazz - black and white.