Swinger!: A Jazz Girl's Adventures from Hollywood to Harlem

by Judy Carmichael

Judy Carmichael first made her name in the 1980s as a svelte, blonde bombshell who played stride piano—a virtuoso jazz style made famous in the ‘20s and ‘30s by Count Basie and Fats Waller. Jazz critic Gary Giddons commented, “How ironic that the last man standing is a woman, as this kind of playing was long considered the private, competitive domain of people who smoked cigars and wore derbies.”Swinger! A Jazz Girl’s Adventures from Hollywood to Harlem is a collection of hilarious, moving autobiographical essays, in the David Sedaris tradition, about a California surfer-girl who dreamed of being a spy but instead became a beauty queen, an actress, a pool shark, a quarterback, and--eventually--a jazz musician. Judy Carmichael welcomes us into her wacky, maddening, thrilling creative life--from Carnegie Hall to camels in Ephesus, to performing for Richard Gere, Rod Stewart and Robert Redford, to a three hour lunch with Billy Joel, hors d’oeuvres with Yoko Ono and the creation of her NPR show, Jazz Inspired. Judy trudges through a Hawaiian rain forest with Sarah Vaughan, auditions as a rodeo rider, flirts with Mr. Big and gets a kiss from Paul Newman, and that’s before she gets to Brazil, where things get seriously interesting.Swinger! is a humorous, candid account of the creative life, the pursuit of one’s dreams, of staying strong, and refusing to suffer. When, in her late forties, a doctor told Judy that he thought she had cervical cancer, she responded, “I’m a jazz musician, doctor. To tell you the truth, this isn’t the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.”

276 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2017

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at one of Judy's performances from a table in the lobby and didn't really know what to expect. I ended up reading it in about a week. The way it was written kept me wanting to find out about Judy's next adventure so I was picking it up every chance I got. It also gave me a few big laughs along the way. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that she has been through a lot and really came out on top.

[Karina Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to see Judy perform recently at my local Jazz Club in Switzerland, and when she mentioned during the show that she had a memoir for sale. I turned to my partner and said, I'm getting that book. I knew, that if Judy writes anything like she speaks, I'd be in for a witty, heartfelt, hilarious read. It did not disappoint. This book was a beautiful window into the vibrant jazz world and one very adventurous life. Entertaining from start to finish.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a concert in my little hometown. Turns out Judy Carmichael is a big deal!

I read this in one sitting! Her writing style is informal and fun, her story entertaining and her voice authentic. She inspires me with her openness to life and her positivity and her ability to thrive in a man's world.

[Heather Mores · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent a lovely afternoon with Judy on one of those small, elite cruise ships she writes about. We simply sat and talked. It is one of my most memorable days on any vacation. Loved reading about her adventures. You should definitely see her perform if you get a chance.