27 October 2009
24 October 2009
21 October 2009
Happy birthday, Dizzy!
The trumpet pioneer of bop, Dizzy was one of a small group of people who defined an entire generation of music. That style featured his furious playing, alternating between infectiously simple and complex high speed phrases.
He began studying the playing of Roy Eldridge. In 1937 he moved to New York and became a session player. In 1940 he met Charlie Parker in Kansas City. They developed bebop playing in after-hours jam sessions with Kenny Clarke, Thelonious Monk and Max Roach.
His first bebop recording was in 1944 with Coleman Hawkins. A year later he recorded with Parker. Some of his famous compositions include 'Salt Peanuts', 'Woody 'N You' and 'Shaw Nuff'. [source]
Gillespie described be-bop as music with a different accent, " ... on the up beat. Instead of OO-bah, it's oo-BAH. Different chords too." [source]
They're not particular about whether you're playing a flatted fifth or a ruptured 129th as long as they can dance to it. [source]
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was born on 21 October 1917. Happy birthday to him.
20 October 2009
17 October 2009
Quote: Emile Griffith
"I like men and women both. But I don't like that word: homosexual, gay or faggot. I don't know what I am. I love men and women the same, but if you ask me which is better ... I like women. I keep thinking how strange it is ... I kill a man and most people understand and forgive me. However, I love a man, and to so many people this is an unforgivable sin; this makes me an evil person. So, even though I never went to jail, I have been in prison almost all my life."
~Emile Alphonse Griffith
13 October 2009
Kozain at Kalk Bay Books
Hugh Hodge’s well-known Off-the-Wall poetry event is moving to Kalk Bay tomorrow night, where Rustum Kozain will feature at Kalk Bay Books. Don’t miss it!
Event Details
* Date: Wednesday, 14 October 2009
* Time: 6:30 PM for 7:00 PM
* Venue: Kalk Bay Books, 124 Main Road, Kalk Bay | Map
* RSVP: books@kalkbaybooks.co.za, 021 788 2266
* www.kalkbaybooks.co.za/author-events-detail.php?id=78
Book Details
* This Carting Life by Rustum Kozain
* Book Homepage
* EAN: 9780795701986
[source...]
12 October 2009
Blaga Dimitrova's "Ars Poetica"
Write each of your poems
as if it were your last.
In this century, saturated with strontium,
charged with terrorism,
flying with supersonic speed,
death comes with terrifying suddenness.
Send each of your words
like a last letter before execution,
a call carved on a prison wall.
You have no right to lie,
no right to play pretty little games.
You simply don’t have the time
to correct your mistakes.
Write each of your poems,
tersely, mercilessly,
with blood — as if it were your last.
(Translated from the Bulgarian by Ludmilla G. Popava-Wightman)
[source...]
as if it were your last.
In this century, saturated with strontium,
charged with terrorism,
flying with supersonic speed,
death comes with terrifying suddenness.
Send each of your words
like a last letter before execution,
a call carved on a prison wall.
You have no right to lie,
no right to play pretty little games.
You simply don’t have the time
to correct your mistakes.
Write each of your poems,
tersely, mercilessly,
with blood — as if it were your last.
(Translated from the Bulgarian by Ludmilla G. Popava-Wightman)
[source...]
11 October 2009
An evening with Shailja Patel
POETRY, PERFORMANCE, RESISTANCE: AN EVENING WITH SHAILJA PATEL, NOVEMBER 7TH, BERLIN
AfricAvenir International is delighted to present a special evening with award-winning Kenyan artist-activist:
SHAILJA PATEL
Poetry, Performance and Resistance
in the Re/Visionen Series
Date: November 7th
Time: 7.30pm
Venue:
Haus der Kulturen der Welt
John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, 10557 Berlin
Entry: 8 euros / 6 euros
www.AfricaAvenir.org
www.hkw.de
www.shailja.com
AfricAvenir International is delighted to present a special evening with award-winning Kenyan artist-activist:
SHAILJA PATEL
Poetry, Performance and Resistance
in the Re/Visionen Series
Date: November 7th
Time: 7.30pm
Venue:
Haus der Kulturen der Welt
John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, 10557 Berlin
Entry: 8 euros / 6 euros
www.AfricaAvenir.org
www.hkw.de
www.shailja.com
10 October 2009
4 October 2009
Happy 75th, Amiri Baraka!
It's a shame that most freedom fighters are usually recognized after they're gone. We have the opportunity to celebrate a man who has stood up for justice and equality then and now!!!!!!
Amiri Baraka’s 75th Birthday Celebrations
Greetings All!
Please join us for a series of events planned in recognition of poet, author, playwright and community activist.
[continue there...]
1 October 2009
Talking about "Facing It"
I first read this poem by Yusef K. before high school and again on either the ACT or SAT. Since it was on a standardized test it must then be considered graspable enough for 17-year-olds.
And it is definitely approachable. It begins almost prose-like. It's clear who is talking (a Vietnam veteran) and where he is (the Vietnam War Memorial) and how he is feeling (lost in a rush of memories and fighting against those feelings).
When I first read this poem I remember thinking that the last line fell flat.
[continue there...]
And it is definitely approachable. It begins almost prose-like. It's clear who is talking (a Vietnam veteran) and where he is (the Vietnam War Memorial) and how he is feeling (lost in a rush of memories and fighting against those feelings).
When I first read this poem I remember thinking that the last line fell flat.
[continue there...]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)