Saturday 10 January 04 from 10 PM to Midnight.
The Jazz Beat Blues Poetry Ensemble at the People’s Pint featuring: Bill Shontz on sax/ wind instruments, T.Namaya vocals/ guitar, George Adair bass/accordion, Lu Anne Hightower on vocals and harmonium and Stephen Bradstatter percussion.
This is one of the leading Jazz poetry performance groups in New England. Individually members have played jazz clubs, universities, and concert venues throughout the US and abroad including the Kennedy Center. Since its current inception over a year ago the group has played at : Woodstock Poetry Festival, Fire and Water Cafe, New England Youth Theater, Cafe Koko, Wild Roots Arts Theater, Keene State College, Night Owl Cafe, Saxtons River Art Center, River Garden Center, School for International Training, West Street Arts, and Vermont Celebrates Hayden Carruth
The ensemble draws on influences and style of the jazz beat generation, but also has elements of samba, and French cabaret in a refreshingly unique performance that expands the notion of spoken word. The Jazz Beat Ensemble addresses themes as diverse as Peace, ecstasy, ice-cream, racism, Palestine, politics, and voodoo love with a lively style that is by turns poignant and humorous.
Audience’s love this mix of jazz, poetry, political humor, and satire .
YOU GUYS ROCK! That’s not quite it, you guys – JAZZ”
"...hip, sexy, irreverent, and very political"
"You react well to each other and the good humor is very welcome. I enjoyed listening!" David Budbill
“Great band! With killer vocals. Wow.” Mikhail Horowitz Performance Poet.
“It moved me to tears.” Rupa
“I loved the mix of poetry and music. Way Cool!" Stephen Stearns
“It is rare to find a ensemble where many artistic levels of expression are touched, and with such intelligence. An evening of breezy jazz and ethnic rhythms would have been cool enough, but then there was the unexpected word art - it was a night of thoughtful cabaret - Bill Shonz on clarinet, Stephan Brandstetter on drums and voice, George Adair on bass and guest artist LuAnn Hightower on percussion and voice created exceptionally cohesive and unrestrained music - the poet T. Namaya weaves his spoken voice and word art throughout the evening for a sublimely refined (and sometimes not-so-refined) description of everyday happenings that often can touch on world events. Our college will have this group back again.” SIT
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Jazz Beat Blues Poetry Ensemble
24 Federal Street
Greenfield, Mass.
(413)773-0333