The Unconventional Path of Thelonious Aubrey

Book excerpt: Fledging singer Thelonious 'Theo' Aubrey and his best friend Bo, an African-American trumpet player, struggle to succeed in the exhilarating music scene of the French Quarter as America slowly recovers from World War II. Desperate for money, they join forces with Callie, a seductive young dancer, and Gritty, an enigmatic outsider. From the colorful streets of New Orleans to the legendary jazz clubs of Harlem, the young artists meet some of the most prominent musicians of their day. When the fallout from their checkered pasts catches up with them, a surprising turn of events leads the lovable, eccentric characters to their unexpected destinies. Gwen Banta's THE UNCONVENTIONAL PATH OF THELONIOUS AUBREY is a historical fiction masterpiece full of humor, love, and heartbreak, set in history's most exciting era of jazz and blues.