Indianapolis Jazz: The Masters, Legends and Legacy of Indiana Avenue

by David Leander Williams

Get into the music with David Leander Williams as he charts the rise and fall of Indiana Avenue, the Majestic Entertainment Boulevard of Indianapolis, which produced some of the nation's most influential jazz artists.
The performance venues that once lined the vibrant thoroughfare were an important stop on the Chitlin' Circuit and provided platforms for greats like Freddie Hubbard and Jimmy Coe. Through this biography of the bustling street, meet scores of the other musicians who came to prominence in the avenue's heyday, including trombonist J.J. Johnson and guitarist Wes Montgomery, as well as songwriters like Noble Sissle and Leroy Carr.

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 2014

Reviews

[Lauren Patton]

I read this for work and the detail and timelines within it are fascinating. It can feel repetitive at times because it contains a lot of biographical information. Overall interesting and to the point.

[Sam Hawkins]

did i read the whole book? no. did i enjoy it? absolutely!

[Louise Hillery]

Historically rich, musically unsatisfying

The historic research that comprises this book is rich, broad, and thorough. It gives one a feel for life in the heyday of Indiana Avenue that is hard to imagine, at least for a latecomer to central Indiana. However, the musical flavor of the book is disappointing and largely missing, apparently due to the author not being a musician. This should not detract from its value as a historic document of a time and place that is rapidly fading from living memory.

[Faye]

Was more of a "history" book. Enjoyed it a lot. Made me more interested in the Indianapolis area.