Each night Thomas listened closely to the jazz in the basement, especially the piano work of Julian Henson, which was tightly controlled even when he improvised. There was restraint to it, it kind of glassy hardness.
-- Night in Shanghai by Nicole Mones.
Thomas Greene, the hero of Nicole Mones's new novel, is a black American pianist who emigrated to Shanghai in the 1930s to lead a jazz orchestra. Greene is fictional, but many of the other characters are real jazz musicians who created China's Jazz Age.
The book is already generating a lot of buzz. Alan Cheuse, of NPR's All Things Considered, says "Night in Shanghai, an intelligent historical romance, shows off with forceful insight, terrific characters, and a telling sense of detail. And, folks, it swings." Read his full review here.
Night in Shanghai is the fourth novel by Nicole Mones, following Lost in Translation (reviewed here), A Cup of Light, and The Last Chinese Chef (reviewed here).
Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Should Be Reading, where you can find the official rules for this weekly event.