A Jazzman's Tale

By Annette Johnson

Bebop trumpeter and pianist, Charles Freeman Lee leaves Wilberforce Collegians jazz band of Ohio's Pre-Emancipation HBCU, Wilberforce University, to join the jazz scene in 1950s NYC, as swing gave way to bebop.

He falls for Jenny, wife of vibraharpist Milt Jackson, befriends and makes records with pianist Elmo Hope. He plays gigs with Thelonious Monk, Lou Donaldson, James Moody, Snooky Young, Candy Johnson, Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson, and joined jam sessions at Minton's Playhouse and the Paradise Club.

He has many decisions to make - can he go forward with the gig without the girl?

The book includes a touching interview with his sister, Professor Jane Lee Ball and vintage photographs of Wilberforce University 1895-1965.

"Well written and very entertaining."

John Murrow, Editor of The Riff

"Uniquely informed and informative, A Jazzman's Tale is especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college and university library American Music History and American Biography collections. A must read for all dedicated jazz fans "

James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review

"This book differs in every sense. Instead of the usual narrative format, she opted for turning the story into a screenplay. But this one is certainly different and makes for an entertaining read. Quirky departures from the norm add to the enjoyment"

Ronald Atkins, UK Jazz Journal

"Johnson perfectly captures the tone, tenor and language of the mid-century jazz musician. A fast-moving, highly entertaining and transportive read, visually evocative, with language that echoes the spirit of improv. This book is a literary fugue in three parts"

Debbie Burke, jazz author

Annette Johnson is a screenwriter with an interest in the life stories of musicians. She enjoys film and music.

twitteratajazzmanstale ajazzmanstaleatgmail.com.

A Jazzman's Tale, contains three parts:

A. The Screenplay

This screenplay is well written, informative and funny and is based on live interviews with the jazzman protagonist, Charles Freeman Lee in Paris where he was still gigging, hanging out and sharing his memories of the 1950s New York City bebop scene with his pals.

Freeman, as he was better known, is listed in the Jazz Encyclopedia by Leonard Feather.

It is an informative and emotionally engaging read that entertains as it informs. Freeman's authentic voice - jazz slang and all - jumps off every page.

Freeman left Ohio in 1950 to head to New York City to make it on trumpet in the bebop scene at the Paradise and Minton's Playhouse. While at Wilberforce University Freeman played trumpet in Wilberforce Collegians Jazz Band.

Other HBCUs had jazz bands - Howard University had the Howard Swingmasters, Alabama State University had the Bama State Collegians. The bands competed after intra-HBCU sporting events.

Many of the characters that are in the story - Snooky Young, George Russell, Ben Webster, Benny Carter, Freeman Lee, Frank Foster, Smack Henderson - were all alumni of Wilberforce Collegians Jazz Band, the resident jazz band at Wilberforce University. from 1926 until the late 1940s.

B. The Interview with his sister Professor Jane Lee Ball

The middle section of the book contains a touching, emotional interview with his sister about the jazz scene, New York City, jazzmen Thelonious Monk, Charley Parker and Elmo Hope whom he could call friends, encounters between jazzmen and law enforcement and amusing anecdotes from the jazz scene.

C. Vintage Photographs of Campus Life at Wilberforce University

As Wilberforce University is a pre-Emancipation Proclamation institution, the third section of the book contains rare, previously unpublished vintage photographs of life on campus from circa 1895 to 1965

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 154464891X
• ISBN13: 9781544648910
• Release Date: March 2017
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 194 Pages
• Weight: 1.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.5" x 11.0"