City of Gabriels: The History of Jazz in St. Louis, 1895-1973 [Paperback]

Dennis Owsley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 8, 2006

City of the Gabriels presents St. Louis's jazz history from 1895 to 1973. Highlighted with striking images from each era, this coffee-table book describes the lively world of jazz from the Mississippi riverboats to the smoke-filled clubs of Gaslight Square. The book explores talents and personalities like Tom Turpin, Frank Trumbauer, Singleton Palmer, Clark Terry, Jeanne Trevor, Willie Akins, Miles Davis, and countless others. Co-published with the Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dennis Owsley hosts Jazz Unlimited, a radio program on KWMU-FM in St. Louis. He is also an accomplished photographer of jazz musicians.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Reedy Press (August 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933370041
• ISBN-13: 978-1933370040
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,195,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great review and history of jazz in st. louis, October 23, 2006

By 

Michael D. Chlanda - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: City of Gabriels: The History of Jazz in St. Louis, 1895-1973 (Paperback)

This book, written by the host of Jazz Unlimited, on KWMU, a local station connected to the University Of Missouri, St. Louis, is a fantastic look at the jazz scene, from its roots, in the 1800's to 1973 giving descriptions of jazz's evolution, wonderful photographs, great commentary, by Mr. Owsley, and much, much more-including references to recordings, so that readers may find the music the book describes, to hear various types of jazz-a "soundtrack", if you will, to the history of jazz in the Gateway city. For St. Louis jazz fans, like me, who listen to Mr. Owsley's show, every Sunday night, and for anyone curious about St. Louis jazz, this book is a great way to learn about it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars City of Gabriels is a labor of love and reverence for an unforgettable city and the musical excitement it nurtured., December 9, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: City of Gabriels: The History of Jazz in St. Louis, 1895-1973 (Paperback)

Written by jazz enthusiast, photographer, and radio show host Dennis Owsley, City of Gabriels: The History of Jazz in St. Louis 1895-1973 is the culmination of twenty years of research into the history of St. Louis jazz. Black-and-white photographs intersperse the music history narrative of the pre-jazz era to the rise and fall of riverboats to the impact of World War II on St. Louis jazz to the polarization of jazz between the traditional style and that developed by the Black Artists' Group, or BAG. Researched in depth, featuring numerous quotes and perspectives from great figures in the jazz, City of Gabriels is a labor of love and reverence for an unforgettable city and the musical excitement it nurtured.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but a shock about my father's memory, February 7, 2011

By 

Karen L. Marshall (O'Fallon, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: City of Gabriels: The History of Jazz in St. Louis, 1895-1973 (Paperback)

This is a great book about the history of jazz in St. Louis. My name is Karen Madison-Marshall. I am the daughter of the late jazz trumpetier Levi Madison. My father was old enough to be my grandfather at the time, so my memory of him lives up until I was 12 years old before he passed away. I've been researching into my father's musical history, and was quite shocked to learn by reading this book, that my father had been institutionalized in the past. I think it should also be corrected the song "Echo in the dark" can be found on CD through amazon I might add from a CD called "Kansas City Jazz"