Ten years in the making. International in scope. From the early days of jazz to modern times. 7,000 names in the index. From early jazz to the dance bands of the swing era, from bebop to jazz-rock and the avant-garde, as the composers of jazz standards, and impresarios, record producers, performers, and the founders of jazz labels, Jews have been and are there, wherever jazz is performed, in whatever country.

This book explores the role of Jews in breaking the colour bar in American jazz, in using jazz as an instrument against apartheid and Soviet oppression, and as a means of survival in Nazi death camps. Jazz Jews also explores the phenomenon of “Jewish jazz”, from the Jazz Age to the present day.

Mike Gerber has interviewed everyone that matters – Jews and Non-Jews, Black and White, including one of the last interviews with Artie Shaw.