Word Jazz

P.J. O'Rourke Speaking at the Connecticut Forum

Do you know anybody who is a master of word jazz? I read an article on Jean Shepherd in Slate Magazine. You know Jean Shepherd, the creator of "A Christmas Story." The article is fascinating and talks about Jean hosting a nighttime radio show and how he was the master of word jazz. What an incredible turn of words~! I immediately thought of P. J. O'Rourke, a master of written word jazz. I have been trying to get my Book Babes to read one of his books, "All The Troubles in the World." The man is so funny but I sometimes have to go online to figure out all his allusions and references. George Will is another incredible master of word jazz to me. I have the dictionary out when I read him but I love to read his stuff. Robin Williams is a master of spoken word jazz, as was George Carlin.

They all seem to have a depth of learning but you do not realize it until you look up some of the stuff they mention and you realize just how well read they all are and how curious they must be. I am going to betray my ignorance here, but in Harry Potter when J.K. Rowling introduces Fluffy, I had no idea of the significance of the three-headed dog, but think of how much richer the story would have been for me if I had known where the idea came from. I love the Harry Potter books, but I know if I knew my mythology and history better that there might even be more to the story than I think.

I guess I will have to become a self "edumacated" person.