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Hot Jazz Trio
Evokes the Paris of the 1920s, ancient Egypt, and the world of hobos, in a trio of stories that mix surrealism and history, myth and reality
153 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
2 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
William Kotzwinkle
81 books256 followersWilliam Kotzwinkle is a two-time recipient of the National Magazine Award for Fiction, a winner of the World Fantasy Award, the Prix Litteraire des Bouquinistes des Quais de Paris, the PETA Award for Children's Books, and a Book Critics Circle award nominee. His work has been translated into dozens of languages.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 10, 2012
I actually only read the story entitled "Django Reinhardt Plays The Blues", which is strange because I loved it. I loved it so much I didn't read the other stories - I know, I totally can't explain that one. But I read this and it made me want to write - so I probably ran off and did that.
Synopsis: Django Reinhardt, and if I remember correctly, Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau search for a magician's assistant who vanishes during a trick.
When I read this, I honestly did not know who anyone was, except Picasso (I was in my early 20s). But perhaps that is why I enjoyed the story so much and national reviewers of the day panned it. And as with all things wonderful, having read it, I went and learned all about Django, his gypsy guitar playing proclivities, his paralyzed digits, Paris in the 1920s populated with all manner of American ex-pats, and surrealism.
Who knows when I finally learned about Jean Cocteau. I already loved Ravel and Satie, so maybe this book can take the credit for that as well. And thankfully we can't all stay 20 something forever.
Synopsis: Django Reinhardt, and if I remember correctly, Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau search for a magician's assistant who vanishes during a trick.
When I read this, I honestly did not know who anyone was, except Picasso (I was in my early 20s). But perhaps that is why I enjoyed the story so much and national reviewers of the day panned it. And as with all things wonderful, having read it, I went and learned all about Django, his gypsy guitar playing proclivities, his paralyzed digits, Paris in the 1920s populated with all manner of American ex-pats, and surrealism.
Who knows when I finally learned about Jean Cocteau. I already loved Ravel and Satie, so maybe this book can take the credit for that as well. And thankfully we can't all stay 20 something forever.
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November 3, 2023I made it through the first one. So wacky
April 15, 2016
This trio is a novella and two short stories mixing surrealism, humor, and one of the more bizarre imaginations on the planet.
William Kotzwinkle is an able and daring writer. Ever-confident in his abilities, he will take on any plot or style, as he does in the three humorous pieces in The Hot Jazz Trio. First, is a surreal novella, featuring Jean Cocteau and Django Reinhardt, as they pursue a missing magician's assistant, with cameos by Picasso and Erik Satie. The surrealism is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland as written by Philip Pullman, but of course that can't quite describe it. He mixes a mystery with the mysterious (similar to his novel Fata Morgana) and the reader has to hang on for the ride. Nothing is too weird or odd for Kotzwinkle, and sense and sensibility go straight out the window. It's the exciting novella without any rules, and if bizarre nonsense is your cup of tea -- drink up! The second tale in The Hot Jazz Trio is a short short about a pharaoh confronting the afterlife, great concept that we too rarely hear about! The third piece is a short story, a tall tale, a myth, a folk legend, about two circus clowns become hobos on the run from Death. It too ventures into the surreal, an alternate universe, a world none of us has ever seen before. All in all, The Hot Jazz Trio is three entertainments worth a read. You'll wonder how he does it. [3.5 Stars]
William Kotzwinkle is an able and daring writer. Ever-confident in his abilities, he will take on any plot or style, as he does in the three humorous pieces in The Hot Jazz Trio. First, is a surreal novella, featuring Jean Cocteau and Django Reinhardt, as they pursue a missing magician's assistant, with cameos by Picasso and Erik Satie. The surrealism is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland as written by Philip Pullman, but of course that can't quite describe it. He mixes a mystery with the mysterious (similar to his novel Fata Morgana) and the reader has to hang on for the ride. Nothing is too weird or odd for Kotzwinkle, and sense and sensibility go straight out the window. It's the exciting novella without any rules, and if bizarre nonsense is your cup of tea -- drink up! The second tale in The Hot Jazz Trio is a short short about a pharaoh confronting the afterlife, great concept that we too rarely hear about! The third piece is a short story, a tall tale, a myth, a folk legend, about two circus clowns become hobos on the run from Death. It too ventures into the surreal, an alternate universe, a world none of us has ever seen before. All in all, The Hot Jazz Trio is three entertainments worth a read. You'll wonder how he does it. [3.5 Stars]
July 11, 2012
three fantastical stories where characters move fluidly, if not always willingly, between dimensions. in the first story, django reinhardt and jean cocteau help a magician recover his assistant from the land of boxes. in the second story, a pharaoh finds his bearings in the afterlife. in the last story, two clowns try to escape death, who wears a suit of fish scales. great characters. memorable. dreamy. funny. "a ride as smooth as a porcupine in your butt." (favorite line in the book.) out of print dollar gem from my lunchtime book hunts.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews