Face of the Bass Posted January 9, 2014 Report Posted January 9, 2014 This needs its own page. Amiri Baraka has passed away at the age of 79. http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2014/01/hold_hold_hold_amiri_baraka_former_nj_poet_laureate_and_prolific_author_dead_at_79.html I am filled with sadness at the moment. He has been a major inspiration to me.
king ubu Posted January 9, 2014 Report Posted January 9, 2014 another obit: http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-amiri-baraka-has-died-20131224,0,7133089.story#axzz2pwEOHZyv
David Gitin Posted January 9, 2014 Report Posted January 9, 2014 We met more than 50 years ago. He was a big influence on me. His poetry and the magazine he edited and the records we exchanged (he turned me on to Albert Ayler), are lifelong memories for me. Decades later I was able to arrange a poetry reading for him at the college in Monterey where I was an instructor. To quote his words in "Bulworth," be a spirit! Don't be no ghost.
jlhoots Posted January 9, 2014 Report Posted January 9, 2014 I met him once in 2009. He was very pleasant on that occasion. He signed my copy of Black Music & the CD insert of Sonny's Time Now. R.I.P.
GA Russell Posted January 9, 2014 Report Posted January 9, 2014 I remember that he was a big favorite of Time Magazine's back in the mid-60's. RIP.
Scott Dolan Posted January 9, 2014 Report Posted January 9, 2014 Still not sure if Roy Campbell Jr.'s death has been confirmed, but if so, we have lost two absolute greats today.
JSngry Posted January 9, 2014 Report Posted January 9, 2014 I think he's been somewhat "irrelevant" for a little bit now, but it was a gradual fade, and when he was relevant, he was wholly relevant.
David Ayers Posted January 9, 2014 Report Posted January 9, 2014 He was due to come here for the conference to celebrate his 80th year which we are organizing. RIP.
Guy Berger Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 Unfortunately, a legacy tainted by anti-Semitism.
danasgoodstuff Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 RIP. I must read "Blues People". Indeed, you should...even when he was conpletely full of it, which was only sometimes, he was still worth reading.
clifford_thornton Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 Wow. A major figure indeed, and very complex. RIP.
marcello Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 Both Dutchman and The Slave were revolutionary.
sgcim Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 (edited) We used to have almost 100 copies of "Blues People" at the HS where I used to teach. If a black kid was failing my music class, I gave them a copy and had them write a book report on it for extra credit. None of them ever returned it. Maybe I created an entire generation of jazz critics. RIP AB/LJ Edited January 10, 2014 by sgcim
paul secor Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 His early poetry was very important to me - and still is. My only encounter with Mr. Baraka was back in the mid 1980's. I was sitting at the bar at Sweet Basil digging Cecil's group. I had my eyes closed for a few minutes. I remember I was smiling because I was enjoying the music so much and, when I opened my eyes, I saw Mr. Baraka sitting on the other side of the bar, looking over and also smiling. It seemed (at least to me) that for that moment we were on a somewhat similar page. Perhaps presumptuous on my part, but that's how it seemed. Thank you, Mr. Baraka.
Face of the Bass Posted January 10, 2014 Author Report Posted January 10, 2014 Unfortunately, a legacy tainted by anti-Semitism. I don't see it as "tainted." I see it as part and parcel of his legacy, along with the misogyny and homophobia of his black Nationalist period. What I admire about Baraka is that he never allowed himself to become politically correct, and wasn't afraid to be wrong. I think he was a very courageous writer.
JohnS Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 Always enjoyed his Applecores column in Downbeat.
Joe Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 Helped to shape whatever understanding I have of this music and its makers. Only came to his poetry and dramatic writing later. THE SYSTEM OF DANTE'S HELL, people... still incredibly powerful... Rest now, Mr. Baraka. Rest.
AllenLowe Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 (edited) in my one encounter he was extremely nice and personable; and I love the early poetry; someday, however, when enough time has passed not to offend anyone who is still mourning, I will do a detailed critique of Blues People, which has some very insightful sociology and a lot of bad history; my best recommendation on Baraka are Gerald Early's one or two critical essays; and Hettie Jones' book. Also, Ralph Ellison's review of Blues People. Edited January 10, 2014 by AllenLowe
Cyril Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 NY Times Obit: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/10/arts/amiri-baraka-polarizing-poet-and-playwright-dies-at-79.html?_r=2RIP.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bArO35pbn6Q
Larry Kart Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 When he was writing jazz reviews for Kulchur, he came up with some gems. I recall in particular his insightful praise for Ellington's "'All American' Jazz." Only a real listener could have come up with that one. In the same issue, maybe it was the same review, he did the same thing with Tadd Dameron's "The Magic Touch."
mikeweil Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 He was important, and his books,which had been translated into German early on (it was much harder and more expensive to get English language books back then) were an inspiration for me, too. R.I.P.
Face of the Bass Posted January 11, 2014 Author Report Posted January 11, 2014 my best recommendation on Baraka are Gerald Early's one or two critical essays; and Hettie Jones' book. Also, Ralph Ellison's review of Blues People. There is something about this that has always bothered me. You hear it a lot from people; that to understand Baraka they should read these other works, rather than anything Baraka himself wrote. In particular, I never cared for Ellison's patronizing review of Baraka's work. Baraka is far more insightful in his own writing (and letters) on Ellison and James Baldwin than Ellison ever was on him. The Hettie Jones book as well. It's certainly a compelling book in many respects, but people always bring it up as soon as Baraka's name is mentioned, as if the one-sided account of an ex-spouse should be the final word on a person.
BillF Posted January 11, 2014 Report Posted January 11, 2014 http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/10/amiri-baraka
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