Indianapolis Jazz

Get into the music with David Leander Williams as he charts the rise and fall of Indiana Avenue, the Majestic Entertainment Boulevard of Indianapolis, which produced some of the nation's most influential jazz artists. The performance venues that once lined the vibrant thoroughfare were an important stop on the Chitlin' Circuit and provided platforms for greats like Freddie Hubbard and Jimmy Coe. Through this biography of the bustling street, meet scores of the other musicians who came to prominence in the avenue's heyday, including trombonist J.J. Johnson and guitarist Wes Montgomery, as well as songwriters like Noble Sissle and Leroy Carr.

David Leander Williams is a collector of memorabilia, historical artifacts and information about African American history, particularly slavery; but his first love is music. Williams holds a BA in Spanish and Portuguese from Colorado State University and an MA in International Studies/Middle Eastern Affairs from Fairleigh Dickinson University.