Customer Reviews

The Jazz & The Blues

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Although not a fresh idea, it's always a good one: a man finally has enough of his confining, conforming life; and so he breaks out to find what's really inside himself. That is this story's plotline. Too bad it never gets exciting. The writing is downright flat and it seems as though the author cannot resist the urge to contrive a scene and indeed the whole book. Main character Combs travels across parts of America with his guitar and several people he meets tell him that he has talent. By the end of the story Combs has retraced his route and collected all these people, and together they go to New Orleans and open up their own club, which also serves the perfect french fry (Billy Bob Thornton already ran the fry in to the ground). Even the smallest detail doesn't escape the urge to contrive, as when a derelict falls asleep in a house full of cats. But there is only one cat that will sleep with this derelict, and we are told that it's name is Hobo. Need more be said?

This book was a great time. Arthur, a boring accountant by age 30, stuck in a dead end life, does what we have all dreamed of doing: He hits the road, no looking back. The cast of characters he meets along the way, from transvestites to a big toothed cook named Freddie, kept me glued. The author shows a real talent for words in how he describes music, (a wonderful choice of words), as Arthur is drawn into the dream world of back alley nightclubs, and learns that there is more to himself then he ever knew: He has talent. AND this book was funny. I even caught myself laughing out loud at times. The story was an inspiration. Makes me want to pick up a guitar, and road trip.

The Jazz and the Blues is an easy to read and fun book. It moves quickly without a lot of unnecessary description. Mr. Woods gets down to the story and moves it right along to keep your interest piqued.

I'm sure that many less courageous souls have longed to do just what Arthur Combs did--just get in your car and drive and not look back. The story is a down-to-earth, often times humerous account of Arthur's adventures on this journey. It is to the point and not cluttered up with a lot of description to make the book longer.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and think you will also.

G. Arthur Woods has put together a tightly-knit, well-crafted novel involving jazz and blues music! The central character of this involved novel is a 30-year-old accountant named Arthur Combs whose poetry and song writings include "Beatnik Drive," "Greasy Spoons," "A Carolina Kiss," "Slip Shot Sam," among others, and which appear at the conclusion of the novel as a separate part of the book.
THE JAZZ & THE BLUES is a contemporary on the road novel, and it has a certain Beat charm about it that readers of the beat fiction of the 1950s and 1960s will appreciate. The characterizations are clear-cut, detailed, and nicely presented, and the dialog is good. Some of the phrasing and words used in dialog will greatly entertain the readers.

I enjoyed the book simply because it was a fun, jazzy reading ride, and an adventuresome road book with such memorable characters as Arthur Combs, Waldo, Phillis, Freddie, Stew, Miss Norma who reads fortunes for the tips, the Kid, Slip Shot Sam, Dishwater Blues Band, Jessica Howard, and others..

For unusual fiction novels concerning jazz and blues, this is a good one and it will entertain you with its imaginative boldness. An enjoyable ride with Arthur Combs, yes, indeed!

Congratulations to G. Arthur Woods and his novel about jazz & blues. A sequel would be nice, given the nature of the interesting characters in the novel.

THE JAZZ & THE BLUES is a winner! This book has humor, and it tells a fine on the road tale.

If you have ever wanted to just get in your car and drive after a long day at work and never look back than this is your book. Find out what happens to Aurther when he decides to do just that. A evening ride turns into weeks and months of the endless road. Ready for whatever is to come infront of him. His trip will make you think twice about your own life. His story will have you laughing, crying and loving each character for their own uniqueness. For this authors first novel, He has started with a BANG! I can't wait to read his next book.

The Jazz and the Blues is a humorous trip of a 30 something guy finding himself by losing himself. The writing is exceptional in this visual feast of Americana as witnessed first hand by an accountant who literally gets away from it all and sees, tastes, hears, and feels more than he ever did or could have previously in the confines of his safe, dull existence. I highly recommend this book.