Good Morning

Book 5 - Julie Otsuka "The Buddha In The Attic"

Julie Otsuka "The Buddha In The Attic" (Anchor Books)







This book consists of the stories of Japanese brides sent to California to marry the men who immigrated to the United States in the early-20th century. On the boat crossing the Pacific the women share stories and photos, hearing about the careers and wealth of one another's husbands while also expressing their anxieties about marriage.

Arrival in California presents a world most of the women never expected. Most find themselves working to exhaustion in fields with little to show for their labour. They are subjected to racism in all of its forms. Much of what they were promised was a myth. The book follows the experiences of these women, from their time on the boat, through marriage and family life, work, and finally through the hysteria of World War II that led to internment.

Otsuka has written this book in the first person plural, a decidedly interesting choice. This has the benefit of allowing Otsuka to explore the varieties and commonalities of these women's experiences. The most interesting and most haunting chapter was the final one, in which white Californians expressed their surprise and wonder at the disappearance of Japanese Americans from their communities. It was astounding how white Americans managed to simply ignore all of the notices that were regularly being addressed to the Japanese community.

This book offers a familiar narrative of immigration, resettlement, and racism. What makes this a fresh and interesting story are the unique writing choices Otsuka has made. This is a rather short book, but it seems to be the right length for the manner in which the story is told.

Dry and Cold

That must have been a really frosty night. The cars had a layer of ice on them when I woke up this early morning. I checked the local weather map via Google and we had -7C in our region. Right now it is sunny and dry but a chilly 6 degrees C! I have no plans for going anywhere unless I walk into town or catch the singular bus to the Bourne and back - yep, one bus heading west into Sittingbourne and same said bus coming back roughly four hours later. They did a further cut to the bus services in December.

I will probably walk down to the local store soon and get some ciders, and milk. I am not desperate for these but I might fancy the cool air up my nostrils.

This is a pic I took yesterday of my end of Faversham, Ospringe, as I alighted from the bus.

Ryūichi Sakamoto

A couple of albums by Ryuchi Sakamoto have been reissued and reviewed in the current issue of Wire magazine. One of them is B2 Unit.

Ryūichi Sakamoto - B-2 Unit [full album]

Tracklist:
————

01 - Differencia - 00:00
02 - Thatness and Thereness - 02:04
03 - Participation Mystique - 05:33
04 - E-3A - 12:12
05 - Iconic Storage - 16:58
06 - Riot in Lagos - 21:41
07 - Not the 6 O'clock News - 27:22
08 - The End of Europe - 32:25

Maleem Mahmoud Ghania & Pharoah Sanders

Reissued back in 1994 on Bill Laswell's Axiom label  has now been reissued on double vinyl and has been reviewed by jazz critic Brian Morton in the current Wire mag. Here is the album its full glory -

Maleem Mahmoud Ghania & Pharoah Sanders - The Trance Of Seven Colors [Full Album]

La Allah Dayim Moulenah (11:09)
Bala Moussaka (3:55)
Hamdouchi (9:05)
Peace In Essaouira (For Sonny Sharrock) (7:22)
Boulandi Samawi (13:54)
Moussa Berkiyo / Koubaliy Beriah La’ Foh (4:34)
Salat Anbi (8:18)
Casa Casa Atougra (5:04)
Marhaba (7:47)

Dave Douglas

Dave Douglas is another jazz artist I like to listen to and I have three of his CD's already. Dave Douglas (born March 24, 1963) is a jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator. His career includes more than fifty recordings as a leader and more than 500 published compositions. His ensembles include the Dave Douglas Quintet; Sound Prints, a quintet co-led with saxophonist Joe Lovano; Uplift, a sextet with bassist Bill Laswell; Present Joys with pianist Uri Caine and Andrew Cyrille; High Risk, an electronic ensemble with Shigeto, Jonathan Aaron, and Ian Chang; and Engage, a sextet with Jeff Parker, Tomeka Reid, Anna Webber, Nick Dunston, and Kate Gentile. Here is a selection -

Dave Douglas - Memories of a pure spring

Dave Douglas: trumpet
Mark Feldman: violin
Guy Klucevsek: accordion
Greg Coehn: bass

Dave Douglas Quartet - Dance in Thy Soul

Dave Douglas - The Inflated Tear

From "Five" (1995)

Dave Douglas - Trumpet
Mark Feldman - Violin
Erik Friedlander - Cello
Drew Gress - Bass
Michael Sarin - Drums

Enjoy

Good Night