Eight Loyola University Maryland students enrolled in an intensive English course on manuscript development have published an extraordinary tribute to Baltimore’s rich jazz history: Music at the Crossroads: Lives and Legacies of Baltimore Jazz. The new book explores the City’s impressive contributions to the creation of jazz and reveals captivating stories about little-known history and previously unsung musicians.

Music at the Crossroads, a collection of thirteen essays, takes readers on an unforgettable musical journey from the birth of the art form to the present day. Along the way, readers discover the important figures, traditions, and locations that have made Baltimore jazz so significant. Highlights include sections on the legends the city produced – singer/bandleader Cab Calloway, big band drummer Chick Webb, and vocalist Billie Holiday – as well as introductions to the impressive national and regional stars these early jazz greats inspired.