The Musical Journey Continues
THE LEGACY
By Teddy Adams
Keepin’ the Beat is somewhat of a sequel to the author’s first book entitled The Up of the Down Beat. Although this book mainly focuses on the author’s hometown, Savannah, Georgia, it also takes you on a journey to other places that share events, experiences, and encounters. Realizing that a lot of information was not included in The Up of the Down Beat and many interesting and meaningful things have happened since it was published, the author was compelled to share more of his life’s musical journey.
Keepin’ the Beat references some of the places and people in his first book and introduces the reader to subsequent and current happenings in his and the lives of musicians. Musicians are creative and sometimes eccentric, but what is important to them is keeping jazz alive and uplifting the human spirit of people who appreciate it. Approaching the twilight of his life’s musical journey, this author considers this book to be somewhat of a legacy and culmination of his musical journey. By “keepin’ the beat,” he and other musicians are marching and playing to the beat by perpetuating and creating a music art form that has permeated the world–the art form commonly referred to as jazz.
By: Teddy Adams
The musical journey chronicled in this book is an interesting, truthful and in some instances a very funny revelation of events, places and people encountered. Beginning in this writer’s hometown, Savannah, Georgia, to national and international places, there’s always an unexpected, yet thought provoking twist of occurrences and incidents throughout his encounters with many Jazz greats. Much like the syncopation found in Jazz music, the journey of the author’s encounters is unexpected, yet every moment or experience shared with other uniquely talented, creative and interesting Jazz musicians left lasting impressions for a lifetime.
Through personal experiences and associations this musical journey reveals insight, information and trivia that is probably not considered as being common knowledge about several Jazz musicians, many of them of national/international prominence. Like the lives and music of these musicians, the element of surprise and the unexpected are an intricate part of their makeup….thus “The Up of the Down Beat” is most befitting when describing them and the environment in which they dwell.