Jam - Hardcover

Goldsher, Alan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 157962040X ISBN 13: 9781579620400

Publisher: Permanent Pr Pub Co, 2002

Synopsis

Everybody knows someone like James Justus.

James is a wonderboy, that guy who can do anything he sets his mind to—all with seemingly little effort. Good looks, great personality, big heart, amazing artistic instincts, the works. You’d be hard pressed to find a chink in his armor.

Everybody knows someone like Frank Craft. Frank is the eternal outsider, the resolute sort whose off-center goals compel him to howl against the prevailing winds. He’s not your prototypical “natural,” but his determination more than compensates. He’ll work his hindquarters off to realize his dreams, whatever they might be.

James Justus and Frank Craft are friends. Good friends.

James Justus and Frank Craft are also musicians. Great musicians.

James is the definition of a prodigy. With little-to-no training, he’s mastered the entire woodwind family, trumpet, trombone, guitar, and piano. The quantity and quality of his talent is almost frightening.

Conversely, Frank is, well, Frank—-he’s a superb drummer, but has to constantly fight his own limbs to achieve the perfection he so desires. But driven by an obsessive love for jazz-—and an abiding love for his high school dreamgirl Sara Rogers—-Frank Craft molds himself into one helluva percussionist.

After a rocky start, James and Frank’s quartet HoverCraft develops a unique bebop-meets-rock style that enraptures their fellow Chicagoians, and attracts the attention of record industry maven Mitch Busey. After the band signs their major label recording contract, Busey renames them Jam, then immediately throws them into the recording studio, where they wax an album highlighted by the stalwart single, “Guess What.”

As “Guess What” begins its steady climb up the charts, Jam takes to the road, where their life becomes a blur of sold-out shows, lustful and worshipful listeners, interminable bus rides, power struggles, petty arguments...and head-spinningly brilliant music. James, the band’s frontman, is forced to deal with the fallout of sudden adulation, while Frank, the band’s heart and backbone, is forced to deal with James’ expanding ego—-an ego that threatens to tear apart both the band and their friendship.

An internationally recognized musician, a music industry veteran, and a respected music journalist, Alan Goldsher has delivered an authentic, compelling, poignant novel peppered with insider insights about the enigmatic and fascinating music business. “Jam” is a passionate tale of money-hungry musicians, sleazy record companies, over-adoring fans, the majesty of jazz, and ultimately, a creative soul who is true to himself and to his art.

About this title

About the Author:

Alan Goldsher is the author of 11 books, including the acclaimed Beatles/horror/humor remix novel Paul Is Undead: The British Zombie Invasion. As a ghostwriter, he has collaborated with numerous celebrities and public figures. For more information, please visit AlanGoldsher.com.

From Publishers Weekly:

Goldsher makes his debut with a musical buddy novel that traces the path of a Chicago drummer named Frank Craft, who forms a successful group with his childhood best friend, a talented multi-instrumentalist named James Justus. The two friends start out as a bebop duo before expanding into a quartet that takes off in the mid-1990s when Justus comes up with the idea of jazzing up some mainstream rock songs, a concept that makes them instantly attractive to Chicago club owners. From there they draw the attention of a sleazy major-label rep who recognizes Justus's star power and imports a couple of egotistical horn players to help recreate the band as a jazz-tinged pop outfit. Their first album includes an instant hit that puts them on the video playlist, and soon Craft and Justice find themselves living the high life when they go on tour. But the band quickly disintegrates in a clash of egos when the horn players sabotage the drummer, and Justus, rechristened "Jam" by the label to match the band's new moniker, becomes infatuated with his newfound stardom. Goldsher is an engaging if somewhat mawkish storyteller who knows the music business and the details of life as a jazz musician, and he creates a lively and interesting band of characters. But his central premise that a jazz band could travel the kind of rock 'n' roll rags-to-riches road he creates is problematic at best, and his tendency to fall into genre clich s while overexplaining some of the musical scenes is compounded by a self-absorbed, unlikable narrator. Overall, however, Goldsher manages to overcome these flaws with sheer storytelling skill, and his book should satisfy jazz fans looking for a feel-good musical fairy tale. (Jan.) FYI: Goldsher is a respected bassist who's recorded with artists like Janet Jackson and Naughty by Nature.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Permanent Pr Pub Co
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 157962040X
• ISBN 13: 9781579620400
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 272