"Each profile is a satisfying blend of anecdotal, factual, and entertaining material.appropriate for general readers as well as academic aficionados of early jazz." -- Choice Reviews "Chip Deffaa, in choosing some of the most talented and altogether fascinating characters in music.has done the world at large a great favor. These poignant and often humerous stories are told with empathy and enthusiam." --Fred Hall, author, Dialogues in Swing and More Dialogues in Swing ".contains more than 70 photos, an excellent index.and an interesting appendix devoted to the work of four prominent restorers of vintage records.

Deffaa makes reading about jazz almost as exciting as listening to it. This is a rare talent.a welcome feast for collectors of jazz literature." -- The Mississippi Rag "In his seamless transitions between direct quotations and paraphrases, [Deffaa] provides not only valuable supportive information but also enough critical comment to let us know that he is not just one more puff-piece sycophant." -- JazzTimes Magazine "Entertaining, informative, and definitive.Deffaa's facility for telling the jazz story in musicians' own words makes him one of the best writers in the field." --Mary Lee Hester, author of Going to Kansas ".a long overdue tribute to latter day jazz saints.

astute interviews draw a relaxed flow of self evaluation from 14 very successful artists dedicated to sustaining the glow of jazz's brilliant flame." -- L.A. Jazz Scene ".includes an interesting and informative chapter about the problems associated with the movement of sound from their original recordings to compact disc." -- Sonneck Society Bulletin ".a valuable addition to jazz historiography.Deffaa has a knack for eliciting the essentials from those he interviews.

a most rewarding book." -- Jazz Notes ".the volume has a nice continuity and smooth overall feeling to it. It swings, in other words.a slew of wonderful photographs.too good to miss." -- The IAJRC Journal.