image: Guest Artist Irby Pace Courtesy of Gallerie Urbane
SO MANY ROADS: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD
Reviewed By Joshua TRILIEGI / SUMMER 2015 Edition of BUREAU OF ARTS AND CULTURE MAGAZINE
David Browne has written a grand opus of a book on, of all things, the greatest rock & roll accident that has ever occurred: The Grateful Dead. No other band in Rock & Roll history can be compared to 'The Dead,' as they have been commonly known by fans and professionals alike. From the early days in Palo Alto California to the later days across the entire world, Mr. Browne has fashioned an exhaustively researched book into an easily readable tome of sorts. The writer for Rolling Stone magazine has taken an original and interesting approach and given us a portrait of the band through a very straight forward concept that fits well with his style, his experience and his day job, writing about music in digestible amounts. Mr. Browne breaks down the careers and characters that make up the Dead, from start to finish, by simply creating complete and utter portraits of various days in the life of The Grateful Dead. Days in which Mr Browne felt that a significant window into the soul of the band could be glimpsed. It is a smart concept considering that Mr. Browne was not an insider. He did not tour with the band, so he was well aware that this book would not compare, nor did he wish to compete with the previous books which have preceded this fine piece of history. Through his research methods, which seem to be exemplary, without all the show off style that can sometimes leave a bitter taste in the reader, and his experience at Rolling Stone magazine, Browne takes us into the forming of the band, their many transformations and delivers portraits of each member with the greatest care and delicacy available. Its a complex story, told with an exacting style.
"The writer for Rolling Stone magazine has taken an original and interesting approach and given us a portrait of the band through a very straight forward concept that fits well with his style, his experience and his day job, writing about music in digestible amounts."
By the fifth page of The Prologue, the reader is hooked. I personally cannot think of a more easy reading style, chocked with so many actual facts, insights and observations in a very long, long time. Sometimes his acuity is just as strange and off the cuff as the formulas and elements that make up The Grateful Dead's original and one of a kind style of music. For instance, Jerry Garcia's early concerns and fears regarding the Cuban missile crisis in America is a real eye opener, which on first impression seems slightly heavy handed, but upon consideration of Garcia's age and experience, entirely fitting. Browne interviewed surviving members, had access to The Grateful Dead Archive in Santa Cruz as well as a multitude of interviews directly from his office job at Rolling Stone magazine. But he didn't stop there, apparently there has been more literature in connection with the Grateful Dead than one would ever imagine. From sources as diverse as Tom Wolf'e, Electric Kool - Aid Acid Test, written in 1968 to the source that broke Watergate, The Washington Post. Everyone has seemingly spent some time ruminating on the indescribable elements that make up the iconic sound that originated such classic pillars of Rock & Roll History like, Truckin', Casey Jones & Uncle John's Band. Mr. Browne has received attention previously for writing about, brace yourself: The 'Importance' of John Tesch. Lets not hold that against him, maybe, like The Grateful Dead, he was intoxicated or simply mixing and matching inspiration and improvisation. Either way, this author has delved deep down into the facts, the myths and the fiction surrounding Garcia and his band of bad boy compadre's and has surfaced with a nice read that newcomers as well as hardcore fans will surely dig. Mr. Brown has also written about: Sonic Youth, Jeff Buckley and James Taylor. As a writer who occasionally hitchhiked to and from preschool in Northern California, with my mom, and on more than one occasion received rides home from members of The Dead: I wholeheartedly approve of this book. Now available on Da Capo Press. Worth every dollar spent on the 482 pages it offers readers.
BUREAU of ARTS and CULTURE : BOOKS
1. The Healing Power of TREES2. The House That TRANE Built
3. Serge GAINSBOURG : Biography
THE HEALING POWER OF TREES
By SHARLYN HIDALGO / LLEWELLYN PUBLICATIONS
Reviewed By +Joshua A. TRILIEGI / BUREAU of ARTS and CULTURE Magazine
Steeped in mythology, visually suggestive imagery & prayers of a previous time and place.
An interesting anthology of Celtic symbols, storytelling and original seasonal rituals that
harken back to the early centuries when trees were considered sacred.
A sort of Calendar of Astrology as seen through the eyes of an Irish Shaman with the trees instead of the planets, telling the story . With a twinkle in her eye and a hand on the bark, Hidalgo tells the origin stores like a mystic priestess with respect and awe for the power of plants, vines, shrubs and trees. The Irish have always had a deep respect for nature, its basic symbolic phenomena and the reasons and seasons that bring these signs to earth . Rainbows, lightening, shillelaghs, runes and the mystic power they represent are but a few of the examples sited here.
In this extremely thorough and imaginative book, we are treated
to a series of stories, visualizations and a compendium of dates
which represent the changing of the seasons and which trees and
plants they represent. With explanations of holiday rituals such as
Christmas, Halloween, The Day of Bread, May Day, Summer and
Winter Solstice, Easter, The Day of The Dead, Harvest and Mabon.
As well as a Lunar Calendar connecting the animals, plants and
strengths of the moon.
For instance, January 24th is the beginning of The Time of Willow: honoring the Bee, the Goddess, the Maiden, the Dove . Ms. Hidalgo goes deep into interpretation of each symbol and how and why it represents this particular season, ritual and the ideas behind it. Equally intellectual & elementary, it’ s a good read for youngsters as well as the curious and well educated on the healing and mystic arts . For those on the ecological side, it’ s a great reminder of how important trees are and a good tool for helping to teach others the need for preservation. This book honors the earth and it’ s hidden healing qualities locked within the ancient powers that many believe reside within each and every living plant. Most common medicines originate from plants and trees. Herbs for cooking such as ‘ ... parsley, sage rosemary and thyme ... ‘ all retain healing ingredients which also carry strong stories that reflect issues pertaining to seasons that challenge humans, be it, common colds or even some forms of cancer. With informative illustrations of trees, descriptions of their branches & leaves. Guided meditations, healing imagery and little know facts
such as there are actually thirteen moon cycles in a year.
In writing this workbook, Ms Hidalgo discovered that she was able to heal, teach and provide a knowledge that was beyond anything she had experienced prior to this time in her life. Perhaps you too will discover some hidden quality within . Meanwhile, you will surely learn a bundle of new facts about trees and their mythology. An easy read that can be reviewed on a monthly basis & used almost as a calendar of learning,
if not an interesting viewpoint that suggests that humans and trees have had a much deeper relationship than us moderns have been recently led to believe . www.Llewellyn.com
For instance, January 24th is the beginning of The Time of Willow: honoring the Bee, the Goddess, the Maiden, the Dove . Ms. Hidalgo goes deep into interpretation of each symbol and how and why it represents this particular season, ritual and the ideas behind it. Equally intellectual & elementary, it’ s a good read for youngsters as well as the curious and well educated on the healing and mystic arts . For those on the ecological side, it’ s a great reminder of how important trees are and a good tool for helping to teach others the need for preservation. This book honors the earth and it’ s hidden healing qualities locked within the ancient powers that many believe reside within each and every living plant. Most common medicines originate from plants and trees. Herbs for cooking such as ‘ ... parsley, sage rosemary and thyme ... ‘ all retain healing ingredients which also carry strong stories that reflect issues pertaining to seasons that challenge humans, be it, common colds or even some forms of cancer. With informative illustrations of trees, descriptions of their branches & leaves. Guided meditations, healing imagery and little know facts
such as there are actually thirteen moon cycles in a year.
In writing this workbook, Ms Hidalgo discovered that she was able to heal, teach and provide a knowledge that was beyond anything she had experienced prior to this time in her life. Perhaps you too will discover some hidden quality within . Meanwhile, you will surely learn a bundle of new facts about trees and their mythology. An easy read that can be reviewed on a monthly basis & used almost as a calendar of learning,
if not an interesting viewpoint that suggests that humans and trees have had a much deeper relationship than us moderns have been recently led to believe . www.Llewellyn.com
THE HOUSE THAT TRAIN BUILT:
THE STORY OF IMPULSE RECORDS
By ASHLEY KAHN on W.W. NORTON PUBLICATIONS
REVIEW By +Joshua A. TRILIEGI / BUREAU of ARTS and CULTURE Magazine
Most music fans know who John Coltrane is and what he did for jazz music,
for saxophone players and new music spirituality . What you may not be aware
of is that John Coltrane & his version of ‘ My Favorite Things ‘ in 1960’s helped
to create an entire label that went onto reinvent and support a bevy of new jazz artists .
The impulse label, which was originally fueled by funds from ABC and hits by +Ray Charles
such as, One Mint Julep, went on to become a leading label with an original look, style and feel. Album covers that opened up and told a story with extended liner notes, helping to create a dialogue and intellectual take on a lot of great new music that helped to fuel new jazz movements.
The story of Impulse records is an interesting one. Ashley Kahn’ s research, his writing style, with a flash-back / flash-forward motif, suits the subject well. Plenty of photographs, samples of albums and an incredibly thorough discography with just about every album, release date & important phase the label went through. Mr. Kahn has written extensively on Jazz with his other books on Miles Davis & Coltrane’ s infamous ‘ Love Supreme ’ . +Sonny Rollins, Chico Hamilton, Yusuf Lateef, Elvin Jones, Tom Scott, +Charlie Mingus, +Coleman Hawkins and Pharoah Sanders are just a few of the artists that followed Coltrane on Impulse. Often honoring him, his massive influence, musically, technically and often naming songs after some type of John Coltrane motif.
THE STORY OF IMPULSE RECORDS
By ASHLEY KAHN on W.W. NORTON PUBLICATIONS
REVIEW By +Joshua A. TRILIEGI / BUREAU of ARTS and CULTURE Magazine
Most music fans know who John Coltrane is and what he did for jazz music,
for saxophone players and new music spirituality . What you may not be aware
of is that John Coltrane & his version of ‘ My Favorite Things ‘ in 1960’s helped
to create an entire label that went onto reinvent and support a bevy of new jazz artists .
The impulse label, which was originally fueled by funds from ABC and hits by +Ray Charles
such as, One Mint Julep, went on to become a leading label with an original look, style and feel. Album covers that opened up and told a story with extended liner notes, helping to create a dialogue and intellectual take on a lot of great new music that helped to fuel new jazz movements.
The story of Impulse records is an interesting one. Ashley Kahn’ s research, his writing style, with a flash-back / flash-forward motif, suits the subject well. Plenty of photographs, samples of albums and an incredibly thorough discography with just about every album, release date & important phase the label went through. Mr. Kahn has written extensively on Jazz with his other books on Miles Davis & Coltrane’ s infamous ‘ Love Supreme ’ . +Sonny Rollins, Chico Hamilton, Yusuf Lateef, Elvin Jones, Tom Scott, +Charlie Mingus, +Coleman Hawkins and Pharoah Sanders are just a few of the artists that followed Coltrane on Impulse. Often honoring him, his massive influence, musically, technically and often naming songs after some type of John Coltrane motif.
Kahn is like a cool daddy professor who simply loves the music,
the vibe, the history of jazz so much, that the reader, his students, soon find themselves steeped in fun facts that make up what we call jazz. From the inception of tunes, recording, players, dates and places, all bases are covered in this comprehensive jazz companion . From the time John Coltrane came to the label and into his leaving the planet. The story reveals itself as important and informative . Alice Coltrane picks up the mantle and carries it into the present time. As the book reveals in Chapter six, “ Died “ is not in Alice Coltrane’ s vocabulary .
You got that right. +John Coltrane left. But with Impulse, his legacy, his fans, his family and books such as this one as well as Kahn’ s other works, the Coltrane legend is indeed alive and well. Highly suggested for those who wish to learn more about this great contributor to the jazz music and vocabulary of great American Arts. With titles such as A Love Supreme, Ascension, Om and Cosmic Music, Coltrane completely transformed jazz into a totally spiritual idea .
From 1962 until his untimely passing , Coltrane recorded albums and songs that have yet to be resolved, understood or entirely digested by any particular critic, audience or movement. He was exorcising his demons, inviting in his angels and taking what we considered as a pastime into a full on religious experience. The jazz solo is never the same after John Coltrane, neither are we. This is a good companion to that legacy And to an important Jazz Music Label.
www.wwnorton.com
BU
GAINSBOURG: THE BIOGRAPHY
By GILLES VERLANT on TAM TAM BOOKS
Reviewed By Joshua A. TRILIEGI / BUREAU of ARTS and CULTURE Magazine
Excessive . Provocative . Tempestuous . +Serge Gainsbourg was a sort of every man rockstar poet who thumbed his nose at everything he could. One thinks of Marlon Brando in The Wild One. Question : What are you rebelling against ? Answer : What’ ya Got ? This is a thoroughly detailed and exhaustedly researched Bio on French singer and songwriter, Serge Gainsbourg . The Publisher, Tosh Berman, handed me a copy while riding on the bus last summer. I promised him we would give it an official review.
Interviews, mixed with original song lyrics, anecdotal stories, timelines and some rare, little known early biographical influences, such as Gainsbourg’ s troubling childhood i e : the nazi invasion of France. Commentary by friend’ s of his parents, family members, co-workers and collaborators as well as people he created some of his best works with, around and about. Such as the Bonny and Clyde track, created after a drunken dinner with french actress and model, Bridget Bardot . She requested for Serge to, “ Write me the most beautiful love song you can imagine. “ The tune created an international stir and the film, by Warren Beatty, released just months after Serge wrote it, assured a healthy dose of timing, that to this day has sustained a hip, savvy, sexy pop style that remains at the very top of strange interludes between poets and pop icons.
GAINSBOURG: THE BIOGRAPHY
By GILLES VERLANT on TAM TAM BOOKS
Reviewed By Joshua A. TRILIEGI / BUREAU of ARTS and CULTURE Magazine
Excessive . Provocative . Tempestuous . +Serge Gainsbourg was a sort of every man rockstar poet who thumbed his nose at everything he could. One thinks of Marlon Brando in The Wild One. Question : What are you rebelling against ? Answer : What’ ya Got ? This is a thoroughly detailed and exhaustedly researched Bio on French singer and songwriter, Serge Gainsbourg . The Publisher, Tosh Berman, handed me a copy while riding on the bus last summer. I promised him we would give it an official review.
Interviews, mixed with original song lyrics, anecdotal stories, timelines and some rare, little known early biographical influences, such as Gainsbourg’ s troubling childhood i e : the nazi invasion of France. Commentary by friend’ s of his parents, family members, co-workers and collaborators as well as people he created some of his best works with, around and about. Such as the Bonny and Clyde track, created after a drunken dinner with french actress and model, Bridget Bardot . She requested for Serge to, “ Write me the most beautiful love song you can imagine. “ The tune created an international stir and the film, by Warren Beatty, released just months after Serge wrote it, assured a healthy dose of timing, that to this day has sustained a hip, savvy, sexy pop style that remains at the very top of strange interludes between poets and pop icons.
Not unlike Madonna visiting with +Charles Bukowski in the Harbor Area of L A .
Hank’ s little girl neighbor would later ask him, “ Why would Madonna want to
visit you ? ” Later, Madonna would pen the now famous Lyric, “ I fell in love
with San Pedro ...” Obviously written about her visits to Buk, with her then
lover, Sean Penn . Gainbourg is, in many ways, the French version of Bukowski.
Throw in a piano and guitar and ‘ viola ! ’ . To this day, Gainsbourg is still one of
the top composers, when it comes to royalties generated from his work .
There are three things you learn about from Parisians within the first week of your visit :
1 - Smoking hashish rolled up into a cigarette.
2 - Eating croissants stuffed with chocolate.
3 - Listening to the music of Serge Gainsbourg .
Anyone who tells you different is either a liar, a coward or was just not hanging out with the right French persons . France is a lovely country full of contradictions. A socialistic society that outsiders adore and bores abhor . There is a comfort with sexuality, eccentricity and revolutionary ideas . Music, art, politics, conversation and a bit of the old debauchery here and there is fine with your average Frenchman and woman too, for that matter.
Serge Gainsbourg came around at just the right time. A sort of French Leonard Cohen meets Charles Bukowski. With a touch of that same strange cocktail of intellect and artistry that gave us the likes of David Byrne & Talking Heads. Of course, this was decades earlier. The Nineteen Sixties anti-hero reflecting on film, politics, the sexual revolution and a new voice for the youth. The guy unwilling to lie about truths, though, more than willing to truth about lies. Copping styles of musical influence from British pop, Jamaican reggae, American Jazz and good old Rock & Roll.
Born in 1928, to Jewish Russian parents, both artistically inclined, visually as well as musically . His Dad’ s a pianist, his mom’ s a singer. They land in France with some 100,000 other Russian - immigrants . And so the story begins. Engaging from the get - go . Finely crafted. A good introductory read for those unfamiliar as well as anyone who is a tried & true fan. Although, for those hearing about the artist for the first time, we highly suggest you purchase a musical companion to this thoroughly engaging biography of one of Frances greatest pop phenomena .
Famous for cussing on television talk shows, telling the scathingly naughty truths that average citizen’s lie about publicly. He was a hot button artist with his finger always on the trigger. He had a free thinking father who played piano daily from the time Serge was born ‘till age twenty. Born with a twin sister in a seriously dangerous time for Jewish peoples. Serge finds his way through music, wit and charm. Knowing that at any minute one might be taken away in cars, trucks & trains, never to return again . He literally is pulled out of school and told by teachers to, “ Take this axe and go hide in the woods .” Somehow, with the help of others, he makes it through and never forgets his past.
There are three things you learn about from Parisians within the first week of your visit :
1 - Smoking hashish rolled up into a cigarette.
2 - Eating croissants stuffed with chocolate.
3 - Listening to the music of Serge Gainsbourg .
Anyone who tells you different is either a liar, a coward or was just not hanging out with the right French persons . France is a lovely country full of contradictions. A socialistic society that outsiders adore and bores abhor . There is a comfort with sexuality, eccentricity and revolutionary ideas . Music, art, politics, conversation and a bit of the old debauchery here and there is fine with your average Frenchman and woman too, for that matter.
Serge Gainsbourg came around at just the right time. A sort of French Leonard Cohen meets Charles Bukowski. With a touch of that same strange cocktail of intellect and artistry that gave us the likes of David Byrne & Talking Heads. Of course, this was decades earlier. The Nineteen Sixties anti-hero reflecting on film, politics, the sexual revolution and a new voice for the youth. The guy unwilling to lie about truths, though, more than willing to truth about lies. Copping styles of musical influence from British pop, Jamaican reggae, American Jazz and good old Rock & Roll.
Born in 1928, to Jewish Russian parents, both artistically inclined, visually as well as musically . His Dad’ s a pianist, his mom’ s a singer. They land in France with some 100,000 other Russian - immigrants . And so the story begins. Engaging from the get - go . Finely crafted. A good introductory read for those unfamiliar as well as anyone who is a tried & true fan. Although, for those hearing about the artist for the first time, we highly suggest you purchase a musical companion to this thoroughly engaging biography of one of Frances greatest pop phenomena .
Famous for cussing on television talk shows, telling the scathingly naughty truths that average citizen’s lie about publicly. He was a hot button artist with his finger always on the trigger. He had a free thinking father who played piano daily from the time Serge was born ‘till age twenty. Born with a twin sister in a seriously dangerous time for Jewish peoples. Serge finds his way through music, wit and charm. Knowing that at any minute one might be taken away in cars, trucks & trains, never to return again . He literally is pulled out of school and told by teachers to, “ Take this axe and go hide in the woods .” Somehow, with the help of others, he makes it through and never forgets his past.
For those music fans who simply like his songs, this is a complete eye
opener, historically and politically speaking. No wonder he was such a
bastard. No wonder he spoke his mind so freely. No wonder he adored
life’ s freedoms. I would not be surprised if someone were to option this
Bio for future production into a fine film. With fans on every continent &
a roster of supporters including Johnny Depp, Isabelle Adjani, Catherine
Deneuve and most hip film makers, it’d be a great piece of cinema.
Tosh Berman, this Books publisher, formerly worked at the Book Soup Annex on Sunset Strip as a cashier . Some years ago, I was about to purchase a rare french girlie magazine with 3-D Glasses attached, he, uhm , sorta attempted to halt the sale. Realizing the rarity if the item. I relented & recently used it to create a tribute work to Jack Kerouac’ s On The Road. Tosh probably doesn’t recall. In any event, Tam Tam Books is his new empire & with this new Serge Gainsbourg biography, he’ s done well. I can see now why he wanted the french girly mag as much as I did. Guess we all have a touch of Serge Gainsbourg in us. Fellow Francophiles.
We suggest this Biography, which was ten years in the making. With explicit instructions to also purchase : The Bonnie and Clyde Album with Bridget Bardot. As well as compilation Records and Discs. One thing that may have been missing from this version is a complete discography with Titles, Dates, etc... Maybe in the reprinting, ‘ Eh Tosh ? Bonjour Mon Amie!
Translated from the French By Paul Knobloch
www.TamTamBooks.com www.ARTBOOK.com
Our Main Site : www.BUREAUofARTSandCULTURE.com
SEND YOUR BOOKS & POEMS FOR REVIEW:
JOSHUA TRILIEGI C/O BUREAU MAGAZINE
1282 W. SUNSET BOULEVARD L.A. CA 90026
Tosh Berman, this Books publisher, formerly worked at the Book Soup Annex on Sunset Strip as a cashier . Some years ago, I was about to purchase a rare french girlie magazine with 3-D Glasses attached, he, uhm , sorta attempted to halt the sale. Realizing the rarity if the item. I relented & recently used it to create a tribute work to Jack Kerouac’ s On The Road. Tosh probably doesn’t recall. In any event, Tam Tam Books is his new empire & with this new Serge Gainsbourg biography, he’ s done well. I can see now why he wanted the french girly mag as much as I did. Guess we all have a touch of Serge Gainsbourg in us. Fellow Francophiles.
We suggest this Biography, which was ten years in the making. With explicit instructions to also purchase : The Bonnie and Clyde Album with Bridget Bardot. As well as compilation Records and Discs. One thing that may have been missing from this version is a complete discography with Titles, Dates, etc... Maybe in the reprinting, ‘ Eh Tosh ? Bonjour Mon Amie!
Translated from the French By Paul Knobloch
www.TamTamBooks.com www.ARTBOOK.com
Our Main Site : www.BUREAUofARTSandCULTURE.com
SEND YOUR BOOKS & POEMS FOR REVIEW:
JOSHUA TRILIEGI C/O BUREAU MAGAZINE
1282 W. SUNSET BOULEVARD L.A. CA 90026
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