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Behind music is often a world of ideas, influences and stories. The brand-new series Re:Context! features leading writers with a new non-fiction work on jazz, impro or global and the wider culture around it.
For this episode, Jaïr Tchong will interview our guest and they will discuss how music connects, shapes or moves us. Double bassist Lara Rosseel provides the musical accompaniment.
Ashley Kahn is a renowned American jazz historian and author. He has previously written acclaimed books about John Coltrane and Impulse! Records. In a past life, he was Paul Simon’s tour manager and accompanied him on his famous Graceland tour.
In his latest book, Kahn delves into the story behind Graceland, Paul Simon’s seventh studio album from 1986. An absolute masterpiece, but also an album that was released against the backdrop of apartheid in South Africa. Many years later, it is the music that stands the test of time. Rarely have different musical traditions come together as convincingly and heartwarming as they did on Graceland.
A compelling story about musical exchange, curiosity, politics, and the sometimes uncomfortable line between inspiration and cultural appropriation. Kahn brings the people and encounters behind Graceland back to life, drawing on his own experience as well as his expertise as a music historian.
Days of Miracle and Wonder is Ashley Kahn’s in-depth narrative about the creation and legacy of an album that holds a special place in music history. Drawing on extensive research and interviews with musicians, producers, and others involved, Kahn traces the making of Graceland step by step: from the initial inspiration to the recording sessions and its global impact.
As both an insider and a music historian, he sheds new light on the people, choices, and coincidences behind the album. The result is a rich narrative about creativity, collaboration, and the complex legacy of a musical milestone.
Following the book launch, Days of Miracle and Wonder will be available for purchase through Het Paard van Troje, and there will be an opportunity to have your copy signed by Ashley Kahn.
Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland (White Rabbit Publishing, 2026)
Joe Boyd
A collaboration between Ha Concerts, Paard van Troje, De Krook and White Rabbit Publishers
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