Todd Moore & J.A. Deane | Dillinger | Zerx

“First, it is a great thing to have Dillinger reborn again being read this time you hear his voice in poem Dillinger and Todd Moore is reading his poem of American hero. His voice (Moore’s) and poem enhances J. A. Deane’s music and the music fits like a knife in the rare cooked steak of Dillinger served up by Moore.” — Michael Basinski, The Hold, March 2002 Continue reading

Jared Smith | Seven Minutes Before The Bombs Drop

“For Smith, there is a kind of pathos in human attempts to replicate the unfathomable beauty of a mountain or a star-filled sky, a pathos, which is worthy of regret, even mocking, but never rage, scorn, or absolute despair. Though his tone could not be called gentle, it is sympathetic to the human condition and the futility, frustration, sorrow, and bewilderment that accompany it. This sympathy elevates his poetry to the levels of the masters who have influenced him” — Joselle Vanderhooft Continue reading

Jared Smith | Controlled By Ghosts

“Again and again, Jared Smith takes us into a world that we feel is strange and impossible, only to make us see, suddenly, that this IS our life, our condition, and until now we have been shying away from reality. Years ago, on my author-interview show on NPR, I hailed Jared as ‘the most important new voice in American poetry since Walt Whitman.'” — Walter James Miller Continue reading

John Bennett | Tire Grabbers | an audio book

Tire Grabbers is the story of the coming of Moloch, a horrific force that mutates out of the Era of the Great Schism and – feeding on spiritual marrow – threatens Mankind’s extinction. And it is the story of the children who challenge Moloch, with their innocence and with an army of mind creatures that they eject into the outer world and call…– John Bennett Continue reading

Jeff Robinson Trio | Getting Fixed

The Jeff Robinson Trio is a very refreshing sound of ‘real’ acoustic Jazz and genuine creativity. The interplay between the words and the music flows very naturally. There are musical and lyrical moments that remind me of the Great Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The poetry (mostly prose) is heavily laden with the experience of a heroin addict. It actually has the main ingredient for a sound track to a movie. Even though there have been many recordings about the abuse of drugs, the culture, the highs and the lows, i.e., Superfly, The Last Poets, Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Goin’ On’, I can’t recall an entire album in this case a CD solely devoted to the addict and his addiction. This is by no means a commercial hit nor is it a typical CD of music and poetry. Continue reading

Norbert Blei | Jim Spector | The Quiet Time: Door County in Winter

Jim Spector is best known for his passionate solo flamenco recordings and his inspired concert performances. He has arranged, composed and recorded the soundtracks to award-winning documentary films and music from his compact disc recording “Flamenco Passions” (DCV002, Door Couniy Voices) has been featured on American Airlines. In this collaboration with Norbert Blei, the text provided the images to inspire a musical setting for sensitive, evocative readings. Continue reading

Kazzrie Jaxen | Mark Weber | A Million Shimmering Fish | NA1057

An evolution of gratitude to Mark for the silent spaces between the thoughts, words, and poems from which this concert arose; to Tom Guralnick for planet Outpost, base camp to parallel dimensions; to Janet Simon for divine hospitality and terrestrial support; to the audience of Dreamers who dove into the cosmic womb with us; to Steven Schmidt for discerning notes and words from satelite beeps; to Dana Duke for adding shine; to Jim Gale and JB Bryan for manifesting design; and to the playful Universerse, for having that car zoom by after Poem #4, conjuring a rocket ship vanishing into outer space, or a long forgotten inner galaxy… Kazzrie Jaxen Continue reading

Piri Thomas | Every Child Is Born A Poet | American Clavé

Every Child is Born a Poet: the Life and Work of Piri Thomas is a film that is at the very heart of Piri’s life, soul and vision. He yearns for all unheard broods in every dark part of this disconcerted world to experience refuge, love, joy, creativity, self-esteem and self-fulfillment… to be forever boundless and free. Spiritual emancipation is Piri Thomas’s rite of passage… to repent and rebel through the healing powers of poetry spoken in tongues. Punto! — Juan Sanchez, Visual artist, teacher and activist, June 2005, Brooklyn, New York Continue reading

Lo Galluccio

Lo Galluccio is a vocal artist and poet who’s first CD, “Being Visited” was released on the Knitting Factory label in 1997. NY Dj Vin Scelsa called it “By turns, mysterious, seductive, surreal and spacy.” She first started working with the Jazz Passengers, co-writing a song with Roy Nathanson for the “In Love” CD on the Windham Hill/High Street label, co-produced by Hal Willner. In the mid 90’s she had an avant-rock band called, “Fish Pistol” with slide guitarist wizard Dave Tronzo, bassist Brad Jones, and various drummers including Ben Perowsky. The band played many downtown NYC clubs like Fez and the Mercury Lounge. She’s also sat in with the bands “Sex Mob” and collaborated with Jim Pugliese of “Soultronix”. Continue reading