Jazz Baby by Beem Weeks

Book Description

While all Mississippi bakes in the scorching summer of 1925, a sudden orphan-hood casts its icy shadow across Emily Ann Teegarten, a pretty young teen. Taken in by an aunt bent on ridding herself of this unexpected burden, "Baby" Teegarten plots her escape using the only means at her disposal: a voice that makes church ladies cry and angels take notice. "I'm gonna sing jazz up to New York City," she brags to anybody who'll listen. 'Cept that Big Apple-well, it's an awful long way from that dry patch of earth she used to call home. So when the smoky stages of New Orleans speakeasies give a whistle, offering all kinda shortcuts, Emily soon learns it's the whorehouses and drug joints promising to tickle more than just a young girl's fancy that can dim a spotlight . . . and knowing the wrong people can snuff it out. Jazz Baby just wants to sing-not fight to stay alive.

From the Author

The term jazz baby, to me, represents the 1920's. A decade that may be overly glamorized--as any glance at the past often is. But that particular era produced many firsts that soon became staples of the American way of life. Our very culture. Easily availability of the automobile. Radio. Phonograph records. Movie theaters with their larger-than-life stars. These pastimes we now take for granted were brand new to the roaring twenties. As were speakeasies, flapper girls, and a common popular music.

History saw fit to label it the Jazz Age, a carefree time of new found freedoms and youthful exuberance. Everything changed in that decade. And if you weren't young, one of those fearless babies, you got left behind, forgotten, like the shrugged-off Victorian ideals of previous generations. Emily Ann is the living embodiment of that change. All things are new to her.

In the opening chapter of Jazz Baby, we see a battle beginning to play. Eunice Spatch and her male companion represent the old guard, the ones who have followed a well-worn path through the familiar. Things are done a certain way--we don't deviate. But Emily Ann, she's the jazz baby in the back seat, telling those two upfront that things have changed, women have the vote now. There's a new rule book that needs to be studied.

My Opinion

I found Jazz Baby to be a fascinating read and a very genuine feeling of the atmosphere of 1925 New Orleans.  It revolves around the dreams of a young white, talented Jazz singer.  In this quest, her dreams are shattered by family tragedies and other obstacles. The author captures the time & atmosphere where the story takes place flawlessly.  A young naive girl travels down her path to fame through New York's' Jazz clubs, prohibition, and racism.   It explores the seedy side of life, including drugs, sex, and brothels encountered while pursuing her dream.

There is quite a lot of sex in the book - Jazz baby also has ties to a brothel and mixes with some drug users while growing up and pursuing her dream.

I found the story intriguing & a quick and easy read.  Beem Weeks is an author I will follow & continue to read.  I would give the book 4 out of 5 stars & I highly recommend it.  You can purchase your copy on Amazon.