The Ghosts of Harlem

A lifelong jazz insider who made hundreds of recordings on two record labels, O'Neal interviewed and photographed 42 accomplished jazz musicians from 1985-2007, all of whom had played in Harlem in the 1930s and '40s. This volume, which is oversized (9.25x12.25"), is the result of this 2-decade project, containing the interviews, portrait photos and many other photos from O'Neal's collection. In interviewing the musicians, he asked about their lives and careers and also why they thought the jazz scene in Harlem died out. The result is a rich resource in the history of jazz, full of stories about famous clubs, groups, musicians, and developments in the music itself. Buddy Tate, Eddie Barefield, Earl Hines, and Dizzy Gillespie are among those interviewed. The volume includes a CD of songs by a variety of the musicians, recorded by O'Neal after 1972. Annotation 穢2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)