"Play yourself!" – This was the standard response of black musicians to the question of how to become a good jazzer. Developing and showcasing personality in improvisation could also serve as the motto for the evolution of jazz in Germany. The German scene succeeded in embracing the African American music tradition and finding its own unique style.

Wolfram Knauer traces this journey from the beginnings after World War I to the present day. He immerses himself in 1920s Berlin, highlighting the suppression of swing and jazz by the National Socialists, as well as the revival in post-war Frankfurt and the musical exchange with GIs. He sheds light on the scene in the GDR and illustrates the vibrancy of today's jazz community. Knauer's book is based on decades of research and passion, and it serves as a comprehensive assessment of perhaps the most diverse of all musical genres.

All facets of German jazz: From the Femina ballroom and 1920s Berlin to Albert Mangelsdorff, Wolfgang Dauner, Karl Walter, and the jazz scene of the GDR, up to Christof Thewes, Michael Wollny, and Anna-Lena Schnabel.