Evan Horne [02] Death of a Tenor Man
by Bill Moody
Evan Horne is playing piano at the Fashion Show Mall as he recovers from an injury to his right hand. His old friend Ace Buffington asks him to look for a few answers about the mysterious death of tenor sax player Wardell Gray. Horne doesn't realize that asking a few questions about this decades old murder can bring a lot of heat, including a confrontation with a mobster.
**From Booklist
Moody's second Evan Horne mystery brings back jazz piano player and amateur sleuth Horne and sets him the daunting task of solving the 30-year-old murder of saxophonist Wardell Gray, who died in Las Vegas in 1955, the apparent victim of a heroin overdose. Horne is called to Las Vegas by his friend and fellow jazz buff Ace Buffington, who hopes to write an article on Gray's death and its relation to the abrupt closing of Moulin Rouge, the site of Gray's last gig and the first integrated nightclub in the city. Horne's task is twofold: help Ace research the death of a tenor man and try out his injured hand with a comeback gig on the piano. Trouble ensues quickly and rather predictably as Mob types attempt to stop Horne's investigation. This is formulaic mystery fare, but the Vegas setting is nicely realized, and the use of the real-life Gray case proves fascinating, especially to jazz fans, who will also appreciate the author's musings on the jazz player's art. Great music, mediocre story. Bill Ott
Review
"...Vegas setting is nicely realized, and the use of the real-life Gray case proves fascinating, especially to jazz fans...." BOOKLIST -- Bill Ott, Booklist
**From Booklist
Moody's second Evan Horne mystery brings back jazz piano player and amateur sleuth Horne and sets him the daunting task of solving the 30-year-old murder of saxophonist Wardell Gray, who died in Las Vegas in 1955, the apparent victim of a heroin overdose. Horne is called to Las Vegas by his friend and fellow jazz buff Ace Buffington, who hopes to write an article on Gray's death and its relation to the abrupt closing of Moulin Rouge, the site of Gray's last gig and the first integrated nightclub in the city. Horne's task is twofold: help Ace research the death of a tenor man and try out his injured hand with a comeback gig on the piano. Trouble ensues quickly and rather predictably as Mob types attempt to stop Horne's investigation. This is formulaic mystery fare, but the Vegas setting is nicely realized, and the use of the real-life Gray case proves fascinating, especially to jazz fans, who will also appreciate the author's musings on the jazz player's art. Great music, mediocre story. Bill Ott
Review
"...Vegas setting is nicely realized, and the use of the real-life Gray case proves fascinating, especially to jazz fans...." BOOKLIST -- Bill Ott, Booklist