Connie’s White World by Sam Newsome — And the whole world swings

“The world diminishes the grandeur of jazz. Often hailing it a relic of a bygone era, unfit to be played outside of its designated environments; too few and far between. Most of all, jazz noir has never been conformative. Not then, and certainly not now. Read the following ten stories, each one lifting themselves off the paper in defiance of their written constraints. Listen as their narration ransoms the sounds around you. If only for a brief, fleeting moment, long enough for you to understand.”

The notes of music released into the world born from instinct alone constructs the common theme that resonates in each of the ten short stories contained within this book. A variety of other themes are explored; the complex racial landscape of the Jazz genre spanning back to its creation, reaching far forward into the present day, an artists dedication to their craft versus the gift of raw talent, fame, status, recognition, nepotism, and the absence of all those aforementioned components, music’s ability to destroy and heal those who coax it into existence, the freedom and encumbrances of performance, and much, much more.

Spoiler-Free Plot

Connie is faced with a quandary that might jeopardize her reputation, potentially shifting the public’s perception of not just her artistry, but her morality as well. Percy grapples with the reality of his squandered talent. Valerie considers the daunting prospect of a full-time career in music, at the hefty cost of besmirching her family name as her craft generates considerable scandal.

Mr.Mosely and Frank reminisce on a bygone era, when music selection and discipline were all they had to contend with. A war of letters ensues. Miles Davis haunts in more ways than one. Earl Thomas Jr sheds his identity, adopting another when he plays his instrument despite his lifelong nurturing. Deadly muses emerge each December. Henry yearns for the urgency of his golden years. Our unnamed protagonist transforms into a ballad for scorned lovers.

My Take on Connie’s White World

Call me a doubting Thomas all you want, but to me, seeing is believing. When a claim is made before everything gets underway, I pay special attention to ensure any promises issued are fulfilled. The assurances given in the Liner Notes—beautifully written in the very style the author pledges to display moving forward—seem to be downplayed.

Perhaps it’s a form of modesty, or a sense of obliviousness (complimentary) over just how effective he could, and would end up proving to be. The text in each chapter is a score in and of itself. The fast paced moments, tuned tightly with tension read short and clipped both visually and audibly. The stories filled with drawn out memories spread out across the page, taking up just as much space as their protagonists wish their own fond recollections would command over their lives. The movement of the lines in each paragraph reflect this as well.

The shape of the stories, their alignment, is arranged to reflect its content. Burgeoning sides means exposition while narrowing paragraphs signal realisation. It feels like sight-reading an arrangement of the protagonists’ histories, all while the intimate accompaniment of their emotions sways in the background.

As I read, I thought of my own brief yet memorable encounters with Jazz. Ba-ba-doo-bah No.1 Jazz Piano Studies by John Kember for ABRSM Piano Grade 2 (2011/2012). Not Noir itself, but its cousin, Swing. Almost everyone in my cohort was pulled in by the magnetic swing of the piece. Most of us were the same in that we had no real passion for the genre; we sat through hour-long lessons twice each week, endured early morning practice in the lead up to our examinations.

We were all there because our parents decided this for us. But through this pursuit for extracurricular excellence, we were fortunate enough to witness the genius of a bonafide virtuoso: our teacher, Lola. Yes, she was—quite obviously—far more advanced than we were, but her relationship with music eclipsed our own in every way. It was an amalgamation of talent, dedication, nurture and passion, erupting from her fingers as they struck the keys.

This was the closest we would come to the border between those who listened to music, and those who lived it. Brushing up against that opaque boundary. Wishing what lay on the other side could become clearer for our eager eyes. Yet unwilling, or unable to fulfill the requirements needed to cross over to the other side.

Reading Connie’s White World melted away the film in between. For once, the foreign language that translates to more than just notes on a staff, more than the steady count of a metronomic beat, became a common tongue. Jazz Noir, rhythmic with a melancholy tilt, fosters a sense of familiarity. We find a universality in its unpredictable composition, served to us literarily as a medley of life stories.

Sam Newsome’s writing ensures a shunned offering receives rejuvenation from the proof of its belonging in these contemporary times. The imagery readers are given blows the dust from rusty vocal chords, polishes the shine back onto the brass.

To summarise, very succinctly: this book sings all on its own.

Age Rating

16 years and above

Content Warnings

Alcoholism, Death, Dememtia, Domestic Violence, Drugs, Foul Language, Murder, Racism, Sexual Themes, Suicide.

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