Can a collection of short stories that delves deep into the hearts and souls of musicians be both entertaining and inspirational? The answer is yes, and New York City-based musician, author, artist, and producer Dawoud Kringle proves it with his new book Bedtime Stories for Musicians and Other People.
Dawoud Kringle (aka Dawoud the Renegade Sufi) is a musician and published author whose first two books, “A Quantum Hijra” (a Sufi science fiction novel) and “A Mansion with Many Rooms” (a collection of poetry and short stories) received critical acclaim. His writing appears in several online magazines, including doobeedoobeedoo.info and others, as well as his Substack page.
Dawoud’s music has been described as sounding like “Hans Zimmer and Jimi Hendrix fighting over a beautiful princess from another galaxy.” A fan said of one of his performances “This is the moment when the beings of Mount Olympus allowed us to hear their chief musician.” He has performed in the US and Europe, appeared on many recordings, including 13 self-produced solo albums. A skilled improviser who often improvises entire concerts, he also has experience composing for film, theater, dance performances, and his own neoclassical compositions. Recently, Dawoud had introduced the Dautar into his music, an instrument he designed and commissioned to build that combines the guitar, sitar and cello.
With this experience, Dawoud is uniquely qualified to execute this literary project. His first book in almost nine years, Bedtime Stories for Musicians and Other People is a captivating collection of fictional short stories that takes you on a journey through the lives of musicians across all genres and periods. This eclectic mix of drama, adventure, humor, tragedy, fantasy, mysticism, science fiction, and experimental literary form explores the power of music and the trials and rewards of life itself.
The variety of tales in this collection is truly inspirational. “Kamaludeen and the Djinn” is the story of the 13th-century Moorish equivalent of Niccolo Paganini and his tragic love affair with a djinn. “The Talking Drum” follows the history of a magical drum from its beginnings in the Songhai Empire, to a hip-hop club in Houston in 2012. “The Scroll and the Five Poisoned Animals” explores a similar theme, beginning in pre-dynastic China and concluding in present-day Chongqing. “Chatbot” is a science fiction story that starts in 2042 and tells the story of a musician whose AI assistant achieves sentience with unforeseen consequences. “An American Drama” is a story in three parts, each narrated by the main characters: a dying outlaw country singer, a blues guitarist, and a Native American bassist. “Professor Hieronymus Peabody and the Dead Musicians” is a humorous story of a mad scientist who builds a time machine and sets up “reaction” sessions with deceased musicians such as Mozart, Liberace, and Jimi Hendrix.
These and many other immersive and enchanting storytelling make “Bedtime Stories for Musicians and Other People” a fascinating read. Each story speaks from the hearts of musicians as they navigate the tumultuous waters of creative expression and their lives.
Kringle’s writing demonstrates his deep knowledge of the full scope of music history, literally from the days our Cro-Magnon ancestors first learned to beat a drum. His imaginative tales are related with a melodic flow that makes this complex and inspired collection a surprisingly breezy read. Kringle’s latest is his most accessible to date – one that marries his profound musical scholarship with a world of wildly imaginative premises that will delight and inform music-lovers.
Additionally, Dawoud Kringle is a multi-discipline visual artist, audio engineer, and occasionally does stand-up comedy as a hobby. He is a member in good standing with Musicians For Musicians, and the New York Composer’s Circle.
Amazon link: https://a.co/d/2RcEBPh
Online presence: https://linktr.ee/dawoudtherenegadesufi
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