Kareem's Weekend Boost
5 Things to Watch, Read, or Listen to This Weekend (Oct. 22-24)
Please attribute any references of this article to Kareem.Substack.com
The cold weather is limping in so you might be spending a little more time indoors. Fortunately, I’ve got a few suggestions that might help pass the time more pleasantly. As always, I invite your responses to my suggestions.
LISTEN (music)
Sounds from the Ancestors by Kenny Garrett
Alto saxophonist and composer Kenny Garrett’s album pays homage to the “ancestors” of Detroit who influenced him as well as the cultural ancestors from France, Cuba, Nigeria, and Guadeloupe. The resulting sound is an exhilarating celebration of life. Explained Garrett: “The concept initially was about trying to get some of the musical sounds that I remembered as a kid growing up — sounds that lift your spirit from people like John Coltrane, A Love Supreme; Aretha Franklin, Amazing Grace; Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On; and the spiritual side of the church. When I started to think about them, I realized it was the spirit from my ancestors.”
This is a reader-supported newsletter. Both free and paid subscriptions are available. The best way to join the community and support my work is by taking out a paid subscription.
WATCH (movie)
Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) directed by John D. Hancock and written by Mark Harris
This is one of my favorite sports movies because it combines the sport of baseball with the deeper struggles of the players to apply the ideals of sports and teamwork to their outside lives. Not always successfully. The story follows major league pitching star Henry Wiggen (Michael Moriarty) who is at the pinnacle of his career. On the opposite end is his inarticulate, uneducated catcher Bruce (Robert De Niro), whose career is quickly fading. But when Henry discovers Bruce has been hiding a cancer diagnosis, Henry sets out to try to protect Bruce, much to the team’s opposition. This is one of the most human, touching, funny, and authentic movies—sports or otherwise—that you will watch.
Available to rent at Amazon, YouTube, AppleTV, and others.