Alan Lomax Southern Journey: new LOC book

Subject: Lomax Southern Journey: new LOC book
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 03:13 PM

The Southern Journey of Alan Lomax: Words, Photographs, and Music (The Library of Congress)

Between August 1959 and May 1960, folklorist Alan Lomax took a trip through the American South—dubbed "The Southern Journey"— to record the little-known southern backcountry and blues music that we consider uniquely American. While traveling through Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia, Lomax's camera was a constant companion. These photographs, part of the vast collections of the Library of Congress, show musicians making music with family and friends at home, with fellow worshippers at church, and alongside workers and prisoners in the fields. The photographs, along with the rest of the material from the trip, now reside in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

This book presents a selection of these photographs in a stunning volume published by W.W. Norton. Discussions of Lomax's life and career by his disciple and lauded folklorist William Ferris, and a thoughtful consideration of Lomax's life and photographs by novelist and Grammy Award-winning music writer Tom Piazza, enrich this valuable collection. The book also includes a detailed itinerary of the trip, a Southern Journey discography, and a CD with informative track notes of 12 songs recorded during the Southern Journey. Lovers of American music, photography, and the South should not miss this new look at the legendary folklorist and his work.

There are preview images and audio linked from the above site. $35 for hardcover book with companion CD.

(via AFC on Facebook)

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Alan Lomax Southern Journey: new LOC book
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 03:54 PM

This should not be confused with The John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip, another wonderful project from the Library of Congress.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Alan Lomax Southern Journey: new LOC book
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 09:08 PM

and supplemented with: America Over The Water: A Musical Journey With Alan Lomax by Shirley Collins, S a F Pub Ltd (December 2004).

Thomas.

Subject: RE: Alan Lomax Southern Journey: new LOC book
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 24 Dec 12 - 11:47 PM

There is now a review of the book & accompanying CD on the Musical Traditions website.