By Rebecca Kessler
“Jazz and poetry are artistically and philosophically joined at the hip,” said Harvey Seifter, executive and artistic director of FCCA. “Poetry is about rhythm- the rhythm of language. It's about the capacity of words used freely, that break all the traditional rules, just like jazz broke all the traditional rules of its time.”
The celebration opens Friday night with Women of Rhyme and Song, where singers Terri Klausner, Deborah Tranelli, Nina Hennessey and Terri Burrell along with the Barry Levitt Trio will perform the songs and music of the great jazz chanteuses, Billie Holiday, Carole King, Bessie Smith, and others.
At Saturday evening's Jazz Classique, trumpet player Michael Mossman, saxophonist Antonio Hart, and percussionist Michael Lipsey will play classical music with jazz influences by composers such as Maurice Ravel and Darius Milhaud. The New Generation Gospel Singers will close the festival with the Sunday Gospel Brunch.
Flushing Town Hall will be open all night for the free 24-hour Jazz and Poetry Marathon from noon Saturday to noon Sunday. Keeping Flushing Town Hall open all night is a first for FCCA. In addition to numerous performances and classic film screenings, audience members can read or improvise their own poetry or play music.
The marathon's broad line-up includes The Joel Harrison & Peter Apfelbaum Duo, The Nat Jones Trio, The Gary Versace & Chris Cheek Duo, Matthew Shipp, Searching For Banjo with poet Everton Sylvestor, Bob Holman, proprietor of the Bowery Poetry Club, Chica Luna, The Welfare Poets, Steve Dalachinsky, Saul Bennett, George Wallace, Suffolk County Poet Laureate, Ishle Park, Queens Poet Laureate, Regie Cabico, Hal Sirowitz, Moonshine, Leticia Viloria, Simone Gorrindo, Jackie Sheeler, Talk Engine, Seren Divine, and the Ugly Duckling Poets
The organizers of “Other Words, Other Worlds” wanted to tailor the event to the community's wishes, and make it interactive for people of all ages, Seifter explained. Participants in a public forum in February submitted ideas, which largely drove the event's development, he said. The suggestions included providing workshops and encouraging audience involvement. “If a jazz and poetry festival can't be spontaneous, there's something wrong in the world,” said Seifter.
Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts promotes the arts in Queens from its home in Flushing Town Hall. For more information and ticket prices, call (718) 463-7700 ext. 222, or visit www.flushingtownhall.org.
