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The Editors of
ZCPortal are starting a new weekly feature which
we like to call The ABCs of Kulchur. Every week we
will make suggestions about books and CDs that we
think are outstanding and in need of greater
exposure. So consider this the book and CD club
for the cognoscenti, the intellectual elite and
the very sophisticated. And what’s even better—You
don’t have to watch Oprah.
Books
click
on images
 Rafi Zabor, The Bears Comes Home
Can a talking bear who happens to be the world’s
greatest jazz saxophonist find true love with a
neurotic human woman, play in nightclubs without
scaring his audiences and find a reasonably priced
apartment in the Village? Well, you’ll just have
to read the novel to find out. This is one of the
best (and funniest) novels ever written about jazz
and many of the characters are real life jazz
musicians.
 Paul Auster, The Book of Illusions
Another great novel from the master of chance and
unintended consequences. Following the tragic
accidental death of his wife and children, a
professor becomes obsessed with a silent film era
comedian long thought dead, but who turns out to
be still alive.
 John Fowles, Daniel Martin
“The fated sky,” the Bard once wrote, “gives us
free scope.” But how free are we really? Fowles
addresses this question in the story of an English
playwright who sells out to Hollywood, marries the
wrong woman and then has the chance to go back and
make the right choices. Fowles argues that
artistic creation is a chasing after not success
or popularity but simply the freedom to be able to
create. A brilliant, challenging novel often
overlooked by readers of his more popular works
like The French Lieutenant’s Woman or the Magus.
CDs
 Mike Melvoin, Oh Baby
One of the best jazz pianists on the scene, and
his trio is amazing. You may not know the name,
but Mike Melvoin has been a top studio pianist
since the 1960s and has played with everyone, from
Sinatra to the Beach Boys, and he’s also been the
musical director for the Grammy Awards. This album
deserves the Grammy. It’s that good. For straight
ahead jazz in the bop style, it doesn’t get any
better than this.
 Joyce, Gafieira Moderna
A brilliant album by one of Brazil’s best singers
and songwriters. Joyce combines the rhythms of
Brazil with the drive of American jazz. This is
the real deal.
 Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men, Public Domain:
Songs From the Wild Land
Former Blasters’ songwriter and guitarist Dave
Alvin is one of the great rock ‘n roll songwriters
and is largely unknown outside Los Angeles. On
“Public Domain” he puts together a collection of
old folk tunes from the 19th and early 20th
century. Worth the price of admission alone for
his rendition of “Shenendoah,” but also check out
“East Virginia Blues,” “Delia,” (compare with
Dylan’s version on “World Gone Wrong”) and “Dark
Eyes.” Great stuff.
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