This book documents a portion of American cultural history not often chronicled. Focused on Seattle's black American Federation of Musicians' Local 493, it is an upbeat story of race, jazz, gender, and union culture, set in the format, spanning the years from the 1880's to the mid-1950's. The Blue Note uses union documents, first person oral histories, and extensive primary and secondary sources. The book features more than 100 photographs and other illustrations, many previously unpublished.