The Lady Swings

Thanks to NetGalley, Dottie Dodgson, Wayne Enstice and University of Illinois Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.
This memoir of jazz drummer Dottie Dodgson was a very entertaining read. Not knowing very much about her going into this book, I was instantly captivated by this very groundbreaking musician. Painfully honest, Dottie is nothing short of a survivor who beat the odds.
Dottie’s career began as a singer in the San Francisco area. There, she joined the likes of Charlie Mingus and eventually Benny Goodman when she arrived in New York. She ‘broke the mold’ when she became a part of the all male jazz world. Known as a woman who played ‘a mans instrument’, she was not only a female drummer but a female jazz drummer and played with the very best male jazz musicians of the time.
Dottie reveals the highs and lows of her musical journey, tales of the jazz world of the 1960’s and 70’s and of being a female in a male dominated genre. With verve her words flow through the pages with insight, humor and candor.
Highly recommended.

Dottie Dodgion's introduction in "The Lady Swings" lays it out like a trial lawyer's opening statement of the highs and lows, kidnapping, rape, abortion, suicide attempt, blatant sexist behavior, and gender prejudice as she was determined not be bullied off stage. It was evident that the lady could swing with the best and hold up the worst. Tuning the snare and bass drums to fit the bass player and groove that sweet spot like no one else.
Not flashy nor big on solos, it was the swing, the division, the flow of one note to the next, she explains, that excited her.

As singer and drummer she worked with big names on both coasts and in Europe. Charles Mingus, Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Marian McPartland, Benny Goodman, Eugene Wright, former husband Jerry Dodgion, Randy Brecker and so many more.

Jazz musicians and aficionados will absorb this time travel in first person by Dottie and co-author Wayne Enstice with all of its highs, lows, and all!

A refreshing opening into the world of Jazz drummer, Dottie Dodgson through a memoir. Such an entertaining read about a inspiring musician, but Dottie, isn’t just a musician, oh no, she is so much more than that, and I was so willing to learn.

Her career begins as a singer in the area of San Fran and this is where she became part of the Jazz world by not only being a female drummer, a surprise in the 60’s/70’s but also worked alongside one of the best musicians. Of course this wasn’t all handed to her on a plate, and she had to be a pretty good catch, she couldn’t have just been anyone to get this far, and within the pages of this book we learn the good, the bad and the down right ugly such as gender prejudice, sexist behaviour and more, but Dottie proves herself to be more than that and proves that she could swing with those at the top, her experience as a singer and working with some of the top names must have allowed her to ride through the rougher times in her career.

Truly a thoroughly good read and a little gem to come across!

With thanks to netgalley, Dottie Dodgson and Wayne Enstice in exchange for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.

This book was a great find. I'd never heard of Dottie Dodgion, and have always been interested in the lives of women jazz musicians. Filled with stories from her life and long career, Dottie brings the history of jazz alive from a unique perspective. I recommend this book for anyone interested in the history of jazz, or women musicians of the 20th century.

Thank you Netgalley and University of Illinois Press!

I'm having a blast reading this. I had not heard of Dottie Dodgion but she is a wonderfully unique person. My partner is a jazz drummer so I've been talking his ear off about all the stories Dottie tells in this memoir.

She has an amazing story and met many famous jazz musicians. Like the foreword says, it's too bad that she was never really recognized in broader society as the excellent drummer she was. However, she says herself that she was never in it for fame.

This book was written over the last ten years, while Dottie was in her 80s. She is one year younger than my grandmother and the way she tells stories reminds me so much of my grandmother. I really enjoy it. CW for child rape and illegal abortion - she bluntly and very briefly discusses those parts of her life in the book.

As a percussionist myself, I was thrilled to discover this book by and about Dottie Dodgion.

Speaking from a first person POV, Dottie talks about her days playing in the studios and clubs with some of the most incredible musicians of the times and since.

But she, herself was an icon. Playing a "man's instrument", Dottie's story should inspire so many women and young girls who love picking up those drum sticks and making music of their own.

I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Additionally, I mentioned The Lady Swings on my TV segment with San Antonio Living.

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