Something truly amazing about the history of the world and the ways in which culture can become connected is the power that music has. The various cultures and nations around the world both today and throughout history have their own variations of style and genre, but music always finds a way to transcend any barriers both physical and man-made. The haunting tones of a sad melody or the boisterous harmony of a dance medley all play on the raw emotions that define what it means to be human.
This is displayed well into author Jimmy Mulidore’s The Vegas Player: Celebrities, Sex, Drugs, and Mafia. The book follows the author’s life as a skilled musician, from the time he began playing the saxophone at a young age to the years of schooling that helped refine his skills as both saxophonist and clarinetist, and the move to Las Vegas which allowed him to meet celebrities and brush up against powerful players in the Vegas scene, including members of the Mob – and more.
A truly powerful memoir, the author does a remarkable job of creating a narrative which is honest and compelling. The balance that was found between nonfiction storytelling of the author’s personal experiences with the attention to detail that comes from understanding music and the study of music in general, allows readers to feel engaged and immersed in the author’s world. The author spares no details, from his humble beginnings in Ohio and the way his father made it a point to keep away from local mills, to the encounters he had with figures like Joey “Fats” Aiello and other figures in the local Vegas crime units, allows the readers to get a better sense of the author’s experiences.
Readers who enjoy nonfiction storytelling, especially when it is in a memoir style of writing and focuses on themes of music, a little bit of history and inspirational experiences as well will enjoy this book. The history of the way jazz and big band music became a part of the political machine and organized crime in Las Vegas was so fascinating, showing how thin the line between celebrities and those who ran the Vegas strip truly was. Jimmy Mulidore delivers a raw, unfiltered account of a life lived on the edge where every bet could make you rich… or cost you everything. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
