Timothy Brook has written a brilliant book provides background and biographical insights into Vermeer’s life and works. But it is much more than a biography of Vermeer, the great 17th century Dutch painter. Brook goes much deeper, taking Vermeer’s painting as a jumping off point to give insights into his world. And ours.
Biographies, to me, should give us greater understanding of people. Their background. Personal and family history. The environment in which they lived. Insights into their times. We should not expect them to be uncritical or mindlessly worship their subject. Yet how can we learn about people unless we “walk in their sandals,” as the cliche […]
Jon Hassell is a new discovery for me. As a long-time fan of ECM Records, I could not resist their promotion for Hassell’s new album, Last Night the Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes in the Street. This music is hard to categorize. Part-jazz, it reminds me of Miles Davis’ classic album, “In a Silent Way.” […]
A common cliche often cited in jazz criticism is that a particular musician has “good ideas.” This phrase kept recurring as I listened to this amazing 2-disc set of the Brad Mehldau Trio. In fact, I recall the moment that this became clear to me.
As a student of history, I continually look for resources better to understand or illuminate people and events. One of my recent pursuits has been about the ancient Philistines and Phoenicians. I have reviewed my personal library and the public library. I have purchased new books both specifically about these people, but also about the […]