[.ca] Blue Chicago: The Search for Authenticity in Urban Blues ... (ISBN 0226305899)

Grazian's 'Round Midnight: Surreal Masterpiece:
The late filmmaker Francois Truffaut once introduced Andre Bazin's book on Jean Renoir with the line: "The best book on the best filmmaker by the best film critic." One might borrow from Truffaut for this daring underground study from the terminally-cool Dave Grazian: "The best modern book on modern jazz by the best writer on American jazz now living." Grazian's work just oozes with cool, his writing evokes Kerouac or even the American hippie-poet Brautigan in its terseness and beautiful simplicity of langue. This work is tremendously inspirational for the artist, poet and musician; certainly, it is not limited to eggheads, nor is it intended for such. A friend and famous French jazz flautist recently composed the piece, < >, in C major with coda in 7th degree (B minor 7th flat 5) after reading this book, inspired by the experience. A hip piece of writing by a guy who has lived it. A surreal piece to be read, in one night only if possible, on methamphetamine. If you are reading Ken Burns you are wasting your time baby. . .Dave Grazian: the (re)birth of the cool beat narrative.

A wonderful, highly readable sociological blues review:
Grazian presents the world of Chicago's blues scene with the loving touch of a real fan, and the critical eye of a deep-thinking sociologist. His exploration of notions of "authenticity" in blues is penetrating and insightful, as he examines what it is in the blues experience that makes us think of it as "authentic" -- is it the color of the musician? The world-weariness in his voice? The ambience or clientele of the club? Or is it simply a construct of audience expectations, differing from person to person? Grazian, a blues player himself, skillfully points out how and why the authenticity we seek in our music is a reflection of our search for authenticity, the desire to "keep it real," in culture itself.