by Vince Prudente (Author)
At the heart of these two stories is a deep love for jazz - the music that shapes lives, fuels dreams, and overcomes adversity. In 'You Can't Do That, ' Louise, a young African American girl in 1940s Georgia, begins her musical journey with piano lessons. But when her father leaves, and money grows tight, her lessons come to an end. Years later, after moving with her mother and brother to Detroit, Louise's passion for music is reignited, especially when she discovers the transformative power of jazz. 'If It Don't Kill You' follows Bill, an accomplished jazz musician in his early thirties, as he fights to break into the highest levels of the jazz scene. But as success looms, so do challenges: romantic entanglements and life-altering events threaten to pull him away from his first love: writing and performing jazz. Together, these stories celebrate the struggles, triumphs, and unwavering passion of musicians who live and breathe jazz.