November 2001

The Last Summer of Reason-- In May of 1993, thirty-nine year old Algerian poet, novelist and journalist Tajar Djaout was assassinated by Islamic fundamentalists. Among his papers was the manuscript of a novel called The Last Summer of Reason. The book appeared in France in 1999 and has just been published in the U.S. in a translation by Marjolijn de Jager . Alan Cheuse tells us about it. (2:00)

The book is published by Ruminator Books.

The Feast of the Goat-- Rafael Trujillo's thirty-year reign on the Dominican Republic half of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola is the subject of a new novel by Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa . The book is called, The Feast of the Goat. Alan Cheuse tells us about it. (2:00)

The publisher is Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

Solex-- Tom Moon reviews a new CD by Solex, the creation of Elisabeth Esselink. Esselink owns a record shop in Amsterdam, the shop features obscure LP's. It's from those old record albums that Solex pulls the material that makes up her new CD Low Kick and Hard Bop. The cut up samples gives these old dusty records new life. (3:15)

The CD is called Low Kick and Hard Bop, by Solex. It's on Matador records.

Dr. John-- Scott Aiges reviews the latest CD from Dr. John, the New Orleans musician who mixes up blues, jazz, R&B, and Afro-Caribbean funk. It's called Creole Moon. The label is Blue Note. (4:15)

Diminuendo/crescendo-- Storyteller Mitch Myers recounts the tale of Duke Ellington's performance at the Newport Jazz festival in 1956. It's a story of a journeyman saxophone player, Paul Gonsalves, and how his playing that night would become legend. (6:00) {Station Note: music is from the CD Ellington at Newport on the Columbia Jazz label. The tune is called Diminuendo/Crescendo in Blue.}

Bach - Hidden Melodies-- A new CD called Morimur features music by J.S. Bach, performed by violinist Christoph Poppen and the voices of the Hilliard Ensemble. The Chaconne from Bach's Partita in D is performed with solo violin, along with various church chorales. Then the Chaconne is performed again, this time with the singers bringing out secret melodies. Critic Tom Manoff says hearing the hidden layers beneath the music made him appreciate the genius of Bach even more. (6:15)

The CD is on the ECM records label.

Dogwalker-- Dogwalker is a debut collection of short fiction by writer Arthur Bradford. Reviewer Alan Cheuse finds it exceedingly odd. (1:37)

Dogwalker, by Arthur Bradford, is published by Knopf.

Leonard Cohen Returns -- The brooding singer of sad and lonely songs is back. Leonard Cohen has just released his first new studio recording in 9 years. This record finds him still thinking about relationships gone wrong and romance but with some thoughtful distance perhaps attained through his 5 recent years at a zen retreat. Our critic Tom Moon reviews Ten New Songs by Leonard Cohen, with music by Sharon Robinson. (4:00)

The CD is on Columbia records.



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