Reviews: (by author)

Carter, Don. Heaven's All Star Jazz Band. New York: Knopf, 2002. ISBN 0-375-81517-6. $15.95

Grandpa Jack (now in heaven) loved jazz, sardine sandwiches, and salt peanuts. Obviously, he also loved his grandson, who narrates this story, calling his Gandpa the "bear hug king." Both sweet and educational, the plot depicts Grandpa high above reaping his just rewards: a lifelong jazz lover, he now is listening to the Greats play their instruments and sing their songs, all on the heavenly stage. The Duke, Bird, Dizzy, Lady Day, Coltrane, Basie, Ella, Sarah, Miles, Monk?they're all there as other angels dance to the music or, like Grandpa, tap their feet and snap their fingers. When Grandpa gets his wings, Trane shakes his hand and welcomes him to "Heaven's All-Star Jazz Band."

Firstly, the book is a loving memoir of a boy's relationship to his Grandpa and of the way in which grandparents pass their own appreciations on to new generations. Second, the book is an introduction to jazz: what it does for its listeners and who did what in the past. For readers who know something about jazz, some of the pages are especially moving:

"On wings of gold/Bird solos, Bird soars./Free at last, Bird./Free at last" (no page numbers).

And the art, wonderfully textured oil or acrylic, I believe, adds a whole new dimension. For example, you can see Dizzy's puffed-out cheeks and he plays, the gardenias in Lady Day's hair, and, of course, Grandpa dancing, tapping, snapping, and even playing the spoons.

Highly recommended.

A.A. Nov. '02

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