A Reign Supreme - by Richard Crystal (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A New York jazz musician discovers he has a half-brother--a king in Kenya--and embarks on a journey to Africa that turns into a spiritual odyssey.

When a copper deposit is discovered on the land of the Makenda tribe in eastern Kenya, a young king, Ule Samanga, is told to relocate his people to a refugee camp in Nairobi or risk imprisonment. When all appears lost, the young king discovers the existence of Curtis Jackson, a mysterious half brother presently living in New York. Believing this unexpected news to be an omen from the spirit of his ancestors, he eagerly seeks Curtis's help to save their sacred tribal homeland.

A struggling mortgage broker and former jazz prodigy, Curtis initially has no interest in developing a relationship with his newly found African family. But when he's presented with an intriguing business offer, he embarks on a journey to Africa that becomes a spiritual odyssey, changing him in ways he never imagined.

In this assured debut, Richard Crystal weaves a complex story of contemporary moral imperatives conceived during Obama's victorious election as America's first black president. Themes of corporate malfeasance and exploitation will resonate with readers of The Constant Gardener and Blood Diamond. But beyond the various political machinations, readers will find a heartwarming story infused with the strains of Coltrane, the history of jazz, and the enduring power of family.

Review Quotes

"Mr. Crystal has fashioned a tale of virtue and vice in the modern world. It deals with corporate greed, the politics of today's African economic scene and how they test the people who have to make their living in that environment. And it's all backed by the mellow sounds of modern jazz. I'm sure it will intrigue all." --Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, legendary basketball star, author, and jazz aficionado

"From the streets of New York to a remote tribal village in Kenya, A Reign Supreme is a moody, intriguing and emotional story. Our hero's journey from teenage jazz prodigy, to a man haunted by his past, to accepting his surprising fate of heritage, is a terrific read. I'm not just Richard Crystal's brother, I'm his fan." --Billy Crystal

"As you read A Reign Supreme you will wonder if the author is a jazz musician from the streets of New York or was raised in a village in Kenya. The language of the characters is perfect and real. The descriptions of locations are both factual and extremely visual. Richard Crystal takes you on an adventure involving family loyalty, greed, life changing decisions and much, much more. Something for everyone." --Lou Adler, award-winning music and film producer, and recent inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

"John Coltrane constructed his four-part magnum opus A Love Supreme as a harmonic journey meant to convey an ascendancy to spiritual enlightenment--the musical statement of one man meant to inspire and uplift all. With deep appreciation for that inspirational source, Richard Crystal has been inspired to create a story in four sections that follows that same path to a personal awakening, a return to one's roots, and realization of one's purpose. A Reign Supreme is a rare example of a powerful literary work drawing its spirit from a timeless musical classic, with a deft, reverential touch that avoids cliche or overstatement." --Ashley Kahn, jazz historian and author of A Love
Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album and Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece

About the Author

Richard Crystal has produced and written countless television shows and penned numerous screenplays for theatrical feature films in Hollywood. He has sung and produced four pop jazz albums, performing the classic standards he first heard as a young boy growing up in a house filled with music. A Reign Supreme is his first novel, inspired by a trip to South Africa and Botswana on his twenty-fifth wedding anniversary with his wife, Fran.