I Wish You Love

Jazz singer Lynne has produced, with the help of writer Chilton, a work that is as much a valediction to the figures of her past as it is an account of her own life. From her early performances in the jazz clubs of Greenwich Village to her struggles to stay on the charts in the era of disco, Lynne narrates her own story of the black music experience. Full of gossip, exclamation and vernacular, it's a book that demands to be read aloud. Every chapter is packed with star-studded anecdotes and Lynne's unflappable sense of humor: Ray Charles trying to copilot his private plane (""those blind folks are something else""); new Muslim convert Muhammad Ali unable to turn down a barbecue pork dinner (""seems to me your mama fed you pork, and that's how you became champion of the world""); spending an evening with Frank Sinatra's thugs after a misunderstanding (""I never did tell that I had pissed in my pants too""). In a lyrical preface that contrasts starkly with the garrulous text that follows, the book's message is simply stated: ""to understand the rhythm of [Harlem], the style and flavor of it, you just watch the people."" This is a moving tribute to the crucible of Harlem jazz. (Feb.)