Hot Jazz Special

A feast for the eyes, and the ears too - if read aloud 'with gusto and verve' as the instruction on the front cover has it.

and the dust jacket turns into a wonderful poster

Jelly Roll Morton plays piano like no one else, Louis Amstrong heats up the beat, and Gene Krupa blisters the skins. Hannah even tells you what required dress is for the Body & Soul Café - two-tone shoes, pin-striped, double-breasted suits, and a good hat (beret or even a bowler).

Perhaps for the first time young ones will be introduced to Charlie Parker "It's played all crazy by a cat called bird," Duke Ellington, and more. A brief biography of each of the performers is included as well as a recommendation for one of their greatest hits. For Billie Holiday? "I Cover The Waterfront," of course.

Hannah, who runs "The Cakes & Ale Press," a publisher of hand-printed remembrances of some of music's one-and-onlys, has an obvious love and respect for jazz - this shows and glows on every page.

- Gail Cooke

Jonny Hannah has captured in pictures and text a passion for Jazz that finally allows Uncles like me , the chance to talk about my love of Jazz to my Nieces in a way that was never before open to me.

"So these are the People behind that stuff you like", "Cool"...

The tables are turned, I dont have to struggle to be interested in , "Girls aloud" ,or some "Busted" rehash of older 'seen better days' songs of todays fly by pop scene.
We can talk about much more ,the lives, the music, the difference, that Billy Holiday, Duke Ellington and Co, made to musicand our cultures, Instead.

This book bursting with colour and intriguing illustrations at every turn, on every page, which are as bright and as busy as the music and more importantly the characters it celebrates.

Narrated in a manner that puts me in touch with the Movie Bugsy Mallone, Bar sweeping, wants to be a dancer, character, Hot Jazz Special is a book that every Uncle should Buy for their Nephews and Neices.......