THE ESSENTIAL HITS
2014 National Book Critics Circle Award (Poetry) finalist
Through songs of alternate takes and tempos and a melody crackling with vitality and dynamism, in language symphonic and colloquial, we follow the percussionist of a 70’s descarga band, Shorty Bon Bon, on a re-imagined journey of self-discovery. In this compelling third book, award winning poet Willie Perdomo rebuilds the landscape of Shorty’s life from his apprenticeship, love, a move to the diaspora, and ultimately, his death. Replete with classical tropes, touches of noir (including a femme fatale) and a style all-Perdomo, we accompany Shorty Bon Bon through a surreal gig that, it turns out, is his own requiem.
