New Book! EVERYTHING ARISES FROM AWARENESS: The Teachings of Korim Frederick Prack

NEW BOOK ABOUT MY FRIEND AND TEACHER!  "Everything Arises from Awareness: The Teachings of Korim Frederick Prack"  Available on Amazon.

Fred Prack (October 2, 1943-February 9, 2024) was, in my opinion, an enlightened being, teacher, healer and, most importantly, friend.  He was a householder – he had two sons, Aaron and Jason – and through his life he had many jobs, both within and without spiritual disciplines.  Among them he had worked in advertising, lighting and visual effects for film, operating a health food store, and he was a Registered Massage Therapist, hypnotherapist and psychotherapist.  He also taught Transcendental Meditation for 29 years, and when I met him and knew him, he was a long-standing member of the Zen Buddhist Temple in Toronto. 

More than that, he had a kind word and empathy for everybody.  He saved my life, certainly, when I was at my wits’ end.  At his life memorial ceremony at the Zen Buddhist Temple, it became evident that had illuminated and empowered the lives of many others as well. 

Fred asked me to proofread a manuscript he had written, meant to be part of a series: “The Wholeness Life Meditation Manual” (1996.)  My approved revision from 2014 is included here in its entirety.  Also included are two extensive interviews from 2011 and 2016.  The latter formed the basis for a graphic novel I wrote and drew presenting Fred’s teachings, “What is Meditation?  And Why Should I Do It?” (2018.)  The present volume also contains Fred’s writings for various websites and personal emails, and my own summary of his teachings.

I believe and hope Fred’s words can help heal the world.

- Matthew Brown (Editor), Toronto, 2025

 

“What is needed to resolve and quell the mounting waves of fear and suffering girdling the world, is Awakening to pure Awareness, Buddha Nature, unconditional Love and Compassion.

What each of us can do from the deepest level, of what we are, is infinitely more powerful than the fears that keep minds constricted and focussed on the surface where perspective is lost and fear holds sway over everything.

If people around the world can touch that reality within themselves and begin to know it as themselves, I know we can heal what is happening to all the life that is this planet. I believe this is where real peace begins.”

                                                                                    - Fred Prack

Drawing comics to live jazz with Dave Bryant and friends

I'm very happy to share my live comics jam this past August in Boston with former Ornette Coleman keyboardist Dave Bryant and his amazing friends Daniel Kurganov on violin and video editing, Jorrit Dijkstra on sax, Miki Matsuki on drums and Jacob William on bass. It was a wonderful experience and peak of my comics career so far.

 

MONK is here!

Now AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

New book - “Monk: WORK”. An expressionistic romp through the stage, the studio and the street with enigmatic piano genius Thelonious Monk (1917-1982). It is a matter of public record that Monk was a founder of the revolutionary jazz style called bebop, along with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and later, Miles Davis.

Monk’s music parades an offbeat pageantry where the absurdity of life is never mocked or scorned—but rather treated with a sweet delectation and elevation. Artist Matthew Brown’s brush style is gestural and wild. Like the music itself—angular, dissonant, minimal (and emphatically rhythmic) yet warm-hearted.

Like all art that works, it is a mystery.

This is a non-linear, experimental comic—showcasing the time period during which Monk was recording the legendary album “Underground” (1968) with Charlie Rouse on saxophone, Ben Riley on drums and Larry Gales on bass.

DOLPHY is here!

Now available on Amazon!  “TEARS FOR DOLPHY: The Appearance and Disappearance of Eric Dolphy”.

Eric Dolphy appeared in 1928 in Los Angeles, California and disappeared in 1964 in Berlin, Germany. During his 36 years on our planet he played the alto saxophone, bass clarinet and flute. On a few occasions, he also played the clarinet and piccolo. He performed with avantgarde luminaries such as John Coltrane, Charles Mingus and Ornette Coleman. 

His recordings reveal the traces of a brilliant comet, burning with invention, knowledge and passion. Those who knew him remarked on his kindness and generosity. Facing discrimination in the larger society for the colour of his skin and within the jazz community for his nonconformist exploration, he relocated to Europe… where he shortly collapsed and died, from undiagnosed diabetes. But, who was he? Who was he? Who?

Aah… the music.

Matthew Brown, author and artist of “ORNETTE SPEAKS: A Cartoon Grammar,” continues his experimental comics documentary work with “TEARS FOR DOLPHY: The Appearance and Disappearance of Eric Dolphy.” Including a comics introduction explaining how the author discovered Eric Dolphy’s music, an impressionistic biography of poignant scenarios from Eric’s life, a song-by-song surrealist exploration of Eric’s masterpiece album “Out to Lunch!”, and exquisite drawings from historical photos, interspersed with quotations by and about Eric Dolphy.

An excellent introduction to Eric Dolphy’s work – and a valuable addition to the slim literature available on this giant of the human and jazz world.

on:LINE Comix Anthology #4 is here!

 

I'm very happy to announce the Ambient Zero Publications release of on:LINE Comics Anthology #4 – edited by Claudio Ghirardo, assistant edited by Charles Hackbarth. This collection shares hot fresh work by artists and cartoonists pushing the boundaries – Mark Adair, Claude Bolduc @bolducclaude, Matthew Brown @poopsiepenguin, Marc Cohen @studio_m.s.cohen, Dennis Corrigan @corrigandennis, Victor Gad @victorgad_, CGhirardo @cghirardo64, Charles Hackbarth @charleshackbarth, Jennifer Herbert @lipstick_dirtyboots, Vince Mancuso @vince.mancuso, Arshi Mortuza @poetessarshi, Adam Reich @zenmadmonkey, Naomi Reid, Jack Ruttan and Natasha Vetka @multiversicon. Many of these artists were also featured in the recent show at John Gagné Contemporary Gallery... and some are just in the door.

Also featuring my first ever fully-painted colour comics story and a preview of my upcoming comic about piano genius Thelonious Monk.
Please feel free to share and enjoy! Absolutely free – download at this link:

https://archive.org/details/on-line-4-e-book-apr-2024