Exploring the origins of jazz, the story imagines that a jazz session in 1904 was recorded on three wax cylinders. The cylinders each embark on a journey. One pops up at various times. One, now worth a small fortune, is kept safe one hundred years later by a nightclub owner. The story focuses on the lives of musicians, often pursuing their passion even when other lifestyle choices might be more lucrative. Some of the musicians are great; others are envious because they know they will never be great. Like a jazz piece, the novel riffs on simple themes, allowing them to become more complex over time. A great novel for jazz fans, and a fine piece of writing for any fans of artistic creation.