Comments for Jan On Jack

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Produced by Marjorie Van Halteren

Other pieces by Marjorie Van Halteren

Summary: Jan Kerouac delivering her own poem to Jack over his own poem 30 years previously.
 

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Review of Jan On Jack

This bringing together of a Father and Daughter who passed like ships in the night, is a real treat for those of us who loved Jan and Jack. It isn't as polished as listening to say, Nat King Cole and Natalie doing "Unforgettable" but then, that is exactly what makes this listen so unique. Jack certainly wasn't "polished", indeed always a diamond in the rough, and Jan his restless daughter, seemed to be a chip off the old block. It's just such a shame that they weren't really there for each other when it was literally possible for both of them to be in the same room playing off each others rants and raves. Listening to Jan try to chime in at Jacks ramblings, just like the little girl who secretly wanted her Daddys attention, yet still just a little bit shy of stomping her feet and demanding he stop and listen to her. When she says, "I'd like to talk to the cat that begat me" it feels like that wound was still painful to her, the knowledge that they never could really explore their dysfunctional relationship, because he was already long gone. But she tries, and you can feel the reality of the hopelessness as she rambles about "Madhatten" and the loneliness of the cold sidewalks that they both paced, only never really together. It was like a sweet eavesdrop of a little girl who still craved her lost Daddys love. Perhaps if he was paying more attention when he could have, he could have found some of that solice that was missing from his last years. And you can't help but think that perhaps Jan would have felt more secure about interrupting Jack and saying, "Listen to me a minute, I hear you, I'm not here to hurt you or take anything from you, I'm yours"....they were made for each other. Thank You Ms. Van Halteren for bringing them together for those of us who wished they could have found each other in time....

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Review of Jan On Jack

Wow, that was a little spooky - a mix of serendipity and fine radio production. Marjorie Van Haltern had the good fortune to find separate recordings at WNYC of the two Kerouac's and the radio sense to know what to do with them.
It's kind of like a call and response between daughter and father, complete with jazz soundtrack.
Jan's writing and delivery are playful and clever, yet tinged with the sadness of only having met her famous father a few times.
Jack blazes forward with his thoughts
and observations.
Good writing, delivery by the Kerouac's.
Good radio production by VanHaltern