The 5 O’Clock Band
by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and Bill Taylor, illustrated by Bryan Collier
Abrams
“Where y’at, Shorty?” When young Troy, “Trombone Shorty” Andrews runs late to rehearse with his friends in the 5 O’Clock Band, he takes a walk through the city to try and find them. Along the way, he meets up with a colorful cast of characters that teach him about what it means to be a leader. With rich illustrations by Caldecott Award winning illustrator Bryan Collier, The 5 O’Clock Band is Trombone Shorty’s love letter to his hometown, New Orleans. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Trombone Shorty Foundation.
★★★★★
Florists to the Field
by Christian Owens, Greg Campbell and Erick New
Southerly Media
Floral designers extraordinaire Greg Campbell and Erick New treat readers to a virtual feast for the eyes in Florists to the Field. With rich photos, backdrops from Tennessee to Louisiana and beyond, design tips and sample settings, the designers inspire a celebration. A local wild game dinner catered by Covey Rise Farms and decorated richly with flowers literally pulled from the fields surrounding the farm in Hammond highlights the tour through Louisiana. The book is available locally at Hazelnut, 5525 Magazine Street, or online at SouthernMedia.com.
★★★★★
Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation
by Robert W. Fieseler
Liveright Publishing
Robert Fieseler examines the painful, largely ignored historic tragedy of the UpStairs Lounge fire in New Orleans’ French Quarter in 1973, when an arsonist, in an act of rage, set fire to the club, trapping patrons of the gay-friendly establishment and leading to the deaths of 32 people. The fire and the painful aftermath for survivors and their families, while kept under wraps locally, led to a national outpouring of support and unification within the gay rights community. “Tinderbox” is an important reminder of a chapter that should never be forgotten.
★★★★
Please send submissions for consideration, attention: Ashley McLellan, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005
