Book description
Magic City is the story of one of American music's essential unsung places: Birmingham, Alabama, birthplace of a distinctive and influential jazz heritage. In a telling replete with colorful characters, iconic artists, and unheralded masters, Burgin Mathews reveals how Birmingham was the cradle and training ground for such luminaries as big band leader Erskine Hawkins, cosmic outsider Sun Ra, and a long list of sidemen, soloists, and arrangers. He also celebrates the contributions of local educators, club owners, and civic leaders who nurtured a vital culture of Black expression in one of the country's most notoriously segregated cities. In Birmingham, jazz was more than entertainment: long before the city emerged as a focal point in the national civil rights movement, its homegrown jazz heroes helped set the stage, crafting a unique tradition of independence, innovation, achievement, and empowerment. Blending deep archival research and original interviews with living elders of the Birmingham scene, Mathews elevates the stories of figures like John T. "Fess" Whatley, the pioneering teacher-bandleader who emphasized instrumental training as a means of upward mobility and community pride. Along the way, he takes readers into the high school band rooms, fraternal ballrooms, vaudeville houses, and circus tent shows that shaped a musical movement, revealing a community of players whose influence spread throughout the world.
Dance Cannon
I've found hidden gems in genres I never thought I'd be interested in. ๐ Adding a touch of magic to mundane tasks โ this app turns errands into epic quests! ๐๐ ๐ Adding an extra layer of delight to cooking โ this app turns meal prep into a culinary adventure with its audiobooks! ๐ฒ๐ ListenBook's compatibility with various audio formats is impressive. From MP3 to FLAC, it handles them all flawlessly. With ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has become hassle-free, thanks to the various download options.
Baby Spell
The ability to highlight passages and take notes while listening is a fantastic feature. ๐ถ Saying goodbye to tangled headphones and complex controls โ this app's easy navigation has made audiobook listening a breeze. ๐ต๐ Audiobooks have become a staple in my routine, all thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. It's a must-have for any book lover. ๐๐ฑ
Twisty Dew
This app has rekindled my love for literature, and I'm spreading the word to everyone I know. Thanks to ListenBook, I'm now exploring different genres and formats I never thought I would. ListenBook has enriched my life with a diverse range of content, all at my fingertips. Effortless and enriching โ that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its smooth interface and thoughtful features redefine audiobook joy. ๐ฑ๐
Lord Pistachio
๐ก This app has made my daily schedule more interesting โ 'reading' on the go! ๐ฑ๐ถโโ๏ธ Great for both casual listening and studying. The audio filters are a nice touch.
Lucifurious
ListenBook's support for playlists in CUE format is a detail-oriented touch I truly appreciate. I'm addicted to this app's curated playlists and recommendations โ they're spot on. With this app, I can switch seamlessly between my iPhone and iPad, making my reading experience continuous. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iโve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Crumb Cake
The noise reduction feature is a game-changer for clearer dictaphone recordings. Good for background listening. I didnโt get fully immersed, but it was pleasant enough to have on while doing chores. The narratorโs voice was easy to listen to, even if the delivery lacked some energy.
Gothic Gucci
This app has brought storytelling into every corner of my life โ it's incredible. Navigating my audiobook library is a breeze โ thank you, app developers! Adjusting the tone of the voice is a creative feature. It allows for a unique and personalized experience. Automatic artwork and metadata extraction keep my audiobook library organized and visually appealing.
PepperBurst
ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. Noise reduction and tone changing enhance the listening experience. Love it!
Lucifurious
This app has made 'reading' more versatile and enjoyable than ever. As a busy individual, I appreciate ListenBook's versatility in downloading audio files from various sources. It's a time-saver for sure! The statistics feature in ListenBook is a valuable tool for monitoring and optimizing my audiobook consumption. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the love of literature.
Little General
With this app, every moment is an opportunity to dive into a new story. User-centric audiobook joy โ this app's ease of use is a true marvel. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a dream come true for those epic tales. It's like having a personal audiobook library in your pocket. The audio filters in ListenBook allow me to customize my listening experience. Speed up or slow down playbackโit's all up to me!
Bearded Angler
Thanks to this app, I can enjoy the world of literature without missing a beat in my fast-paced life. I'm amazed at how this app has made reading a seamless part of my life. The app is so well-designed. Itโs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Feral Filly
The 'Explore' feature has introduced me to authors I might never have discovered otherwise. This app's compatibility with various devices ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks wherever I am. Auto-rewind feature is a lifesaver. I never lose my place! ListenBookโs audio quality is excellent. The app enhances my listening experience.
Berry Succubus
Audiobooks have become my companion during long walks, transforming exercise into a pleasure. Navigating through my audiobook library is a joy with this app's intuitive interface and easy controls. It's like having a personal reading companion at my side. ๐ฑ๐
Demo
Listening to audiobooks has become my ultimate way to unwind after a long day. This audiobook app is a true gem โ it brings stories to life with every click. ListenBook's auto-rewind feature is a thoughtful addition that ensures I never miss a single word. Download via WiFi, WebDAV, iTunes โ options galore to suit everyone's preferences. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the audio quality and ensures that I can immerse myself fully in the content.
Guillotine
I can't thank the developers enough for constantly updating and improving the app. Audiobook pleasure simplified โ this app's design is a standout. Audiobook multitasking simplified โ this app's functionality is a triumph. ListenBook's compatibility with various audio formats is impressive. From MP3 to FLAC, it handles them all flawlessly. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iโve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Nessie
I can't get enough of this app's convenience and the endless possibilities it offers. Supports all audio formats I use without issues. Very happy. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history featureโitโs so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app! I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend! This audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to! The narrator's voice was rich and expressive, perfectly capturing the tone of the material. I found myself completely immersed in the story, often sitting in my car longer than necessary just to hear what happened next. The production quality was excellent with clear audio throughout.
Mr. Thanksgiving
ListenBook's focus on quality and user experience has made it my go-to app for audiobooks and educational content. Great for listening to lectures and educational content. Very useful! ListenBook has completely transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. The chapter navigation is seamless, and the statistics feature is a fun way to track my listening progress. The app is stable, fast, and incredibly user-friendly. Five stars!
SprkR
Looping playback has revolutionized my study sessions. I'm learning faster than ever. ListenBook has breathed new life into my audiobook collection. I can't imagine using anything else. The app is constantly updated with new features. The developers really care.
NightWonka
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch, combined with its chapters, controls, and filters, make it the ultimate audiobook app! ๐ Adding an extra layer of delight to cooking โ this app turns meal prep into a culinary adventure with its audiobooks! ๐ฒ๐ Download via WiFi, WebDAV, iTunes โ options galore to suit everyone's preferences. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like Iโm in the story. Solid performance overall though some character voices sounded too similar. I occasionally got confused about who was speaking in dialogue-heavy scenes.
DreamDiver
I'm in awe of how this app has brought new dimensions to my reading experience. Iโve been using ListenBook for months, and itโs been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesnโt drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend! The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience