The Return of the Trumpet, Part I - Hardcover

Baran, Randy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0976096501 ISBN 13: 9780976096504

Publisher: Inglebook Publishers, 2005

Synopsis

The Return of the Trumpet -- Part I of a jazz trilogy by Randy Baran This urban fantasy about a young, emerging jazz trumpetist who comes upon an exotic, powerful trumpet that he has to return is something readers, lovers of music, and lovers of high comedy really shouldn’t miss.

Author Randy Baran portrays American culture at its most vibrant -- right after WW2, near the end of the Jazz Age, and at the dawn of post-modern culture. That era of transition is poignant because, after meticulously crafting an inviting slice of life, Baran drops the reader, and the main character Brad Tillman, into the midst of a deadly power struggle involving choices that will set the course for people’s lives now and into the future.

It all happens when Tillman meets his musical muse -- a wild, mystical character named Earle -- in a Chicago parking garage, on his Prom night in 1948. Tillman is about to make his professional debut with the jazz musicians who are playing at his Prom. But when he goes to get his trumpet, he runs into Earle and winds up inheriting Earle’s mysterious trumpet, a mission to return it, and a fascinating, life-long puzzle he is destined to solve -- and at all cost.

Baran writes in a flawless cinematic style, reminiscent of the movies of the 30s and 40s. The result of his two-decade effort gives a quality of heart and soul to the story that stands above much of today’s entertainment. Known in jazz music circles (he’s a guitarist), Baran distinguishes himself as a new literary voice in this notable American fantasy.

About this title

About the Author

Randy Baran has been writing words and music most of his life. His fascination with color and light started when he built a spectroscope in high school and won a trip to the Chicago Science Fair. But any notion of a career in spectral analysis was sidelined by his spiraling interest in journalism and music.

After receiving his undergrad degree in Social Psychology with a minor in Philosophy, and editing his college newspaper, Baran fulfilled one of his career goals and became a journalist.

As a hard news reporter, Baran developed an ability to capture the human spirit that shaped news stories and quickly delved into feature writing. His articles have since appeared in the Chicago Tribune, the Daily Herald, and the Chicago Sun-Times.

At the same time, Baran has maintained a parallel career as a musician. He is a well-known working guitarist in Chicago, and has played a wide variety of musical venues including many years with Chicago area big bands. A songwriter, influenced by jazz, rock and pop, he is working on a CD of his original music.

Baran has been married for more than 20 years and lives in Chicago with his wife and teen-aged son.

With this trilogy, he has blended his love of color, words and music into a single work with a single goal: to bring you joy.

From the Back Cover

"To those who understand that the physical world is not all there is; to those who feel more deeply and hear more profoundly; to those who know that music is much more than sound, this book will appeal." Kathleen Julicher

From the Inside Flap

Brad Tillman can mesmerize audiences with his trumpet playing. While his heart is with Jean -- his best friend s attractive sister -- is senses are held captive by a wild, mystical trumpet player named Earle, who he meets in a Chicago parking garage on his Prom night in 1948.

Earle invites Brad to jam. "I mean, really jam!" The moment Earle lifts a jewel-encrusted trumpet to his lips, their rendezvous proves to be a tumultuous turning point in Brad s life.

He inherits the trumpet, along with Earle s old Hudson roadster. And if Brad s playing was good before, now he can shake the world.

But the mysterious trumpet has to be returned. "All your questions will be answered in due time," Earle explains before he departs, leaving Brad scratching -- make that rubbing -- his head, wondering just what has been set before him.

With potent forces pursuing him and the trumpet, Brad begins an electrifying journey through Chicago s smoky nightclubs, the Army in Korea, and finally to a jazz club in the deep South, where he encounters the trumpet s deadliest foe.

Of all the advice and prayers Brad receives as he embarks on his quest, his mother s wisdom rings true: "There s a great Joy in this. Hold onto that Joy and never let go. It ll be your best weapon."

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

With that, Earle blew his trumpet. Deep-hued streaks of glowing rose and blue light flew into the sky. They were followed by sharply shaven spirals of gold and silver that whirled past the streaks, making them oscillate from end to end. They receded into the vastness, each streak becoming a colored, twinkling star.

Brad s emotions resonated. He listened and watched, still holding his trumpet at his side.

Earle gave him a quick nod. Brad felt his trumpet warm. He brought it to his lips and played.

Sound shot from his bell and sank deep into the black and gray night. He felt a cool rush of wind rise upward. Then, as if a scroll was unrolled, color canvassed the sky. Auras of soft color splashed across the darkness like spilled, luminous paint.

Brad blew patches of color like small balloons that Earle pierced with bold, shining darts. The colors mixed and dripped down, hanging like glowing ornaments suspended in three dimensions from each preceding hue.

Earle blew a jet of iridescent gold and ruby red high into the sky. Brad feathered it with a lush skyscape of varied blues and violet-green.

Brad dabbed the sky with thousands of particles of yellow. Earle shot a sizzling beam of staccato white underneath, cupping the particles as if they had been heated, making their soft edges resonate with glistening movement.

As they played together, a great polyphony of light and sound began dancing and weaving its way towards the horizon like a free-form painting, turning the night into a swirling sea of constantly emerging, colored sound. Deep tones mingled with cool, rich colors. High brassy notes rose to accompany astounding specular displays.

Brad closed his eyes and began to see with his heart.

Beneath the bridge, the holding tank blazed upward like a gold beacon. Brilliant sound and light reflected into Brad, passing through the very fiber of his being. The mighty girders reverberated with tone -- each began to glow with a different color.

"Earle," Brad gasped. "I have to tell you something."

Earle took his trumpet from his lips.

"This . . . is too much . . . I have to tell you something . . . right now . . ."

"No. We have to play more. You haven t heard enough yet."

"But . . ."

Earle stopped him with a look. His eyes shone like living mirrors, reflecting the colors still smoldering in the sky. Even though Brad knew Earle was his friend, the power in those eyes was frightening.

"Play, Youngblood. Play now."

Brad raised his trumpet and blew. The effect was electrifying. Energy flowed from his trumpet in colored waves. Like a jet wash, Brad s notes canvassed the heavens, exploding with sparkling highlights that left, in their wake, the sound of thousands of hands clapping.

Earle raised his trumpet again, but a moment later, put it down. He let Brad go on alone while he watched, smiling.

Brad filled the sky with a delicate wash of yellows and greens. He seemed to have gotten the hang of it, and was enjoying himself when he noticed Earle looking at him. He stopped. "What? Now what?"

Edition details

• Publisher: Inglebook Publishers
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0976096501
• ISBN 13: 9780976096504
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 374