22 review for
Bebop Fairy Tales: An Historical Fiction Trilogy on Jazz, Intolerance, and Baseball
4 out of 5
Kevin Kuhn–
I’m connected to the author of this book though a shared friend. She’s a talented Jazz singer that I knew in elementary school and Junior High. I was able to hear the author, Mark Ruffin, talk about his book on a regular Zoom show she hosts. Covering topics such as Jazz, baseball and intolerance in America, this book jumped to the top of my ‘To Be Read’ pile. Ruffin is a double Emmy winner and Grammy nominee and is currently the program director for the Real Jazz channel on SirusXM radio.
This b I’m connected to the author of this book though a shared friend. She’s a talented Jazz singer that I knew in elementary school and Junior High. I was able to hear the author, Mark Ruffin, talk about his book on a regular Zoom show she hosts. Covering topics such as Jazz, baseball and intolerance in America, this book jumped to the top of my ‘To Be Read’ pile. Ruffin is a double Emmy winner and Grammy nominee and is currently the program director for the Real Jazz channel on SirusXM radio.
This book is honest, raw, lively, and timely. It’s a trilogy; three tales connected only though the subject matters of jazz and baseball and themes of intolerance and perseverance. The first story was my favorite. The title is “Saturday Night Fish Fry” and it follows a cast of characters as they intersect in richly described locations like New Orleans and Memphis. Jazz musicians, sailors on leave, and southern aristocrats collide and connect in a whirlwind leaving you wondering how it all happened in just two days.
The second story is titled “‘Round Midnight with the Ku Klux Klan” and follows our main character Rufus from high school to Ole Miss and then off to his future. In just twenty-three pages, Ruffin takes on a volatile cocktail of bullying, bigotry, and sexual orientation discrimination. Rufus discovers jazz, his sexual identify, and a bright shining moment that was born from his own father’s intimidation.
“The Sidewinder” is the name of the final tale. Once again, we have a diverse set of characters, but this time become intertwined over a period of sixteen years. Race riots in Philadelphia in 1964 provide the backdrop when a small, white, Jewish boy finds himself in West Philly neighborhood.
Ruffin is indeed a storyteller. Jazz is a spontaneous mix of instruments and personalities and so are these stories. The last story nearly had too much narration for my tastes, but Ruffin’s ability to mix musical references, biting commentary on social injustice, and insane amounts of American and sports history in an effortless combination, makes the tale work. You’ll be amazed at how much of everything is packed into this 220-page book.
I very much enjoyed these modern-day fairy tales. The only cure for bigotry and intolerance is education that leads to compassion and empathy. And Ruffin invites us to face these cruel realities in a way that can only help drive positive change.
4 out of 5
Eddie–
Interesting read about real people on fictional situations. The tale of Bob Fosse and Gene Ammons is very much fun.
Kevin Kuhn –
I’m connected to the author of this book though a shared friend. She’s a talented Jazz singer that I knew in elementary school and Junior High. I was able to hear the author, Mark Ruffin, talk about his book on a regular Zoom show she hosts. Covering topics such as Jazz, baseball and intolerance in America, this book jumped to the top of my ‘To Be Read’ pile. Ruffin is a double Emmy winner and Grammy nominee and is currently the program director for the Real Jazz channel on SirusXM radio. This b I’m connected to the author of this book though a shared friend. She’s a talented Jazz singer that I knew in elementary school and Junior High. I was able to hear the author, Mark Ruffin, talk about his book on a regular Zoom show she hosts. Covering topics such as Jazz, baseball and intolerance in America, this book jumped to the top of my ‘To Be Read’ pile. Ruffin is a double Emmy winner and Grammy nominee and is currently the program director for the Real Jazz channel on SirusXM radio. This book is honest, raw, lively, and timely. It’s a trilogy; three tales connected only though the subject matters of jazz and baseball and themes of intolerance and perseverance. The first story was my favorite. The title is “Saturday Night Fish Fry” and it follows a cast of characters as they intersect in richly described locations like New Orleans and Memphis. Jazz musicians, sailors on leave, and southern aristocrats collide and connect in a whirlwind leaving you wondering how it all happened in just two days. The second story is titled “‘Round Midnight with the Ku Klux Klan” and follows our main character Rufus from high school to Ole Miss and then off to his future. In just twenty-three pages, Ruffin takes on a volatile cocktail of bullying, bigotry, and sexual orientation discrimination. Rufus discovers jazz, his sexual identify, and a bright shining moment that was born from his own father’s intimidation. “The Sidewinder” is the name of the final tale. Once again, we have a diverse set of characters, but this time become intertwined over a period of sixteen years. Race riots in Philadelphia in 1964 provide the backdrop when a small, white, Jewish boy finds himself in West Philly neighborhood. Ruffin is indeed a storyteller. Jazz is a spontaneous mix of instruments and personalities and so are these stories. The last story nearly had too much narration for my tastes, but Ruffin’s ability to mix musical references, biting commentary on social injustice, and insane amounts of American and sports history in an effortless combination, makes the tale work. You’ll be amazed at how much of everything is packed into this 220-page book. I very much enjoyed these modern-day fairy tales. The only cure for bigotry and intolerance is education that leads to compassion and empathy. And Ruffin invites us to face these cruel realities in a way that can only help drive positive change.
Eddie –
Interesting read about real people on fictional situations. The tale of Bob Fosse and Gene Ammons is very much fun.
Holger –
Mark A Rini –
Andre Guess –
Carol –
Stephen –
Joanne –
Lawrence –
Sam Irwin –
Matt –
Beau Stubblefield/Tave –
Michael –
Rebecca –
Mitch Smith –
Clint –
Emily –
Duane Heughan –
David Frances –
Michael Pushkin –
Anthonyalford Alford –
Chris Klockau –