Blowin’ Balloons

Nathaniel Mackey’s Bass Cathedral bubbles with jazz

July 8th, 2008 · No Comments

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “jazz age” aside, the relationship between America’s “indigenous” music–as jazz is mistakenly referenced–and American literature is symbiotic but somewhat murky. Michael Ondaatje’s Coming Through the Slaughter imagined the hard scrabble beginnings of “jass” through the life of New Orleans progenitor and cornet player Buddy Bolden. Beat-groupie John Clellon…

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Tags: Book Reviews · Featured