Phil Sandford has created a marvellous book, not only for traditional jazz lovers but for anyone interested in what was happening on the Australian scene, particularly Melbourne, from the early 1900s to the postwar period. It is replete with references to music and the jazzmen of the time, foremost among them, Willie ‘The Lion’ McIntyre, and international legends.
Sanford slides effortlessly from discussions of Willie’s escapades; as the organist at Carnegie Methodist Church he, “occasionally managed to incorporate a disguised version of ‘St Louis Blues’ into the hymns he played”, to, “For George Tack, the main difference between the Newstead band and the New Orleans-style bands in Melbourne lay in the rhythm section ‘…they didn’t swing.’”
Sandford moves from discussing the influence of Jelly Roll Morton and Fats Waller on McIntyre’s playing style, to jazz sessions in war-ravaged Papua New Guinea, effortlessly weaving in the interconnected threads of life and music.
The book is a meticulous work of scholarship, with over eleven pages of notes; four pages of interview notes; seventeen page details of all recordings referred to; five pages of bibliography; a ten page index, and a four page list of all the songs referred to, making it an invaluable reference source of jazz history.

This is a truly amazing book. The atmosphere of the thirties and forties in Australia is instantly evoked and even if you are not all that interested in jazz music, you will enjoy reading about the people, places and circumstances of the time.
On the other hand this is a meticulously and thoroughly researched documentation of the history of Australian traditional jazz, with particular emphasis on the life and achievements of pianist Willie McIntyre. All of this fascinating and important history was probably on the verge of being lost forever, but Phil Sanford has brought it all to life in a most engaging manner.
“The Lion Roars” will continue to be an exhaustive reference work for future students of Australian Jazz history, as well as a delightful read for anyone with an interest in Australia’s past.