Poetic Rhythms
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 22 February 2012 13:50
- Written by Super User
Robert Pinsky and musical friends bring the groove to Newton December 10
By Matt Robinson
Jazz and poetry have long been bedfellows. Both are based on rhythms and
patterns the exploration and temporary abandonment of which can make the
core all the more intriguing and the return to which all the more satisfying. It may
be no surprise, therefore, that one of the nation’s great poets is also one of its
biggest Jazz fans.
On December 10 at 8 PM at the Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center
in Newton (www.jccgb.org), former U.S. Poet Laureate and current Boston
University Professor Robert Pinsky will join a team of local legends including
Stan Strickland (sax), John Lockwood (bass) and Rakalam Bob Moses (drums)
for a night of Jazz and poetry that will bring the audience from the roots of both
forms to the edge of technology.
When asked how he came to poetry, Pinsky explains that his rhythmic writing
and reading roots run deep. “In very early childhood…I would tap out the
cadences of sentences, ponder the nature of rhyme,” he recalls, noting that he
has since found many people with similar proclivities who are now part of his
Favorite Poem Project (www.favoritepoem.org).
As for the link between verse and melody, those too appealed to Pinsky as a
boy. “I loved parody or obscene distortions of popular song lyrics,” he recalls,
thanking his parents who, he says, “smart, eloquent joke-tellers and arguers and
complainers.”
With this love of words and music as his base, Pinsky began to look for ways to
apply his passion professionally. “In my late teens, I veered away from trying to
be a musician toward poetry,” he explains. “I learned that there was an art based
on the quasi-musical way I'd been hearing words and sentences all my life.”
Though Pinsky’s main instruments may be his mind, his pen and his voice,
he has never left his love of music and melody and tries to incorporate both in
every poem and performance. In fact, he has been presenting events like the
forthcoming JCC gig for almost 10 years now at venues ranging from Berklee to
the Jazz Standard in New York. Among his talented teammates have been
Charlie Simic. Mike Manieri, Andrew Cyrille, Lonnie Plaxico, Andrew Urbina and
Ben Allison.
“I still can't believe my good fortune, working with such masters,” he smiles.
Though Pinsky’s poems range in topic and tone as much as most Jazz
pieces, he does suggest that, considering the venue and his heritage, there
may be some “Jewish“ themes floating along. No matter what the topic,
however, he promises that the true elements of poetry and Jazz will both be in
abundance. “Surprise and expectation, theme and variation,” he suggests. “And
listening- Just listening!”
After the music and the mechanics of the Quickmuse web-based improvisation
are done, Pinsky hopes that all guests come away with a new appreciation of
both music and words.
“I hope the evening will demonstrate the vocal, physical nature of my poetry in
particular and poetry in general,” he says. “I hope they come away with a sense
of the pleasure and excitement in the sounds of words.”
