| POETRY CURRENTS | |
RETURNING TO THE OPEN MIC RITUAL
I’ve participated in countless open mics since around 1990, when I returned to New York City from Europe. I quickly learned that Slam was not for me. Too many rules. At an open mic, anything truly goes, and I enjoy listening and watching as much as the opportunity to be heard by a very unpredictable audience. At all those open mics in New York City and now here in the Bay area of Northern California, I usually find other folks, often my seniors, who have the same inclination to return again and again to the same ritual.
QR Hand Jr. is one of those confirmed poet soldiers, and one day soon I intend to corner him at Rafael’s Bar when he shows up for Listen & Be Heard, and take some notes that I can share with all of you.
AVOTCJA
Someone else who not only returns again and again, but who has helped to spread the word along her vast and intricate web, is Avotcja. A self professed poetry junkie, Avotcja goes to open mics to exercise her poetic muscles.
But don’t misunderstand me. Although I have seen her, walking with crutches, clutching a bag full of poetry, wielding the power to make people laugh, or simply to command attention, at almost every open mic event that I’ve found to attend in the area, her activities reach far beyond the open mic arena. It seems that she is always just coming from teaching a class at one of our local schools or prisons, or on her way to a late night radio show. Avotcja is a published poet, an active playwright, leader of Modupue (a poetry and music ensemble), producer and radio host on two different stations, and a teacher of students in many different walks of life. Although she has multiple sclerosis, she is a testament to her own words: “folks with major disabilities can do things, and shouldn’t crawl into a cave.”
Like me she loves Northern California, but she was born in New York City. In between she spent time all over Canada, the United States, Denmark and chasing trios in Mexico. She traces her early poetic influences to musical roots, and claims never to have separated the two. Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Eric Dolphy, Dorothy Donegan, Eddie Jefferson, Arsenio Rodriguez, Gylan Kain, Felipe Luciano... they are all poets. They are all musicians. This idea of poetry as music, music as poetry, is apparent in every aspect of Avotcja’s work.
A few months back I went with local Vallejo poet Glynda Velasco to see Avotcja perform with Modupue in the Asian American Jazz Festival in San Francisco. Avotcja played percussion and read poetry in an intimate setting accompanied by harp, violin, saxophones, flute and koto. The style of poetry and music was a sophisticated blend of free jazz with classical instruments, recalling to me the hypnotic work of Alice Coltrane. Modupue is a multi-cultural group of musicians including Sandy Poindexter on violin, Frances Wong on tenor sax and flute, Jon Jang on piano, Val Serrant on steel pan and djembe, John-Carlos Perea on bass and Native American flute, Baba Ken Okulolo on talking drum, Jimmy Biala on drums, kulingtang, and more instruments too numerous to name. Modupue also recently appeared at Yoshi’s and can be found at numerous local Bay area events this summer including the Alameda County Blues Fair on July 4, the Hayward/Russell City Blues Festival on July 12 and 13, The Unitarian Church in San Francisco on August 24 and Rhythm & Muse at the Berkeley Arts Center on October 11.
Another recent event I attended, this time with local Vallejo poet Felicia Thompson, was a production of Avotcja’s musical play and dance extravaganza “Oaktown Blue” at the Alice Arts Center in Oakland. With a cast of more than 30 actors, singers, dancers and musicians, “Oaktown Blue” brings the Oakland Renaissance back to life. From beginning to end it sings the praise of the Blues, and the enduring role it plays in American and more specifically, California culture. The play idea grew from a poem which she wrote after performing in a show about Harlem in the 20’s. In the lobby of the theatre was a display of historic Black Oakland. Avotcja asked around, wanting to know why no one was doing a play about Oakland in the 20’s and the answer was that no one had written such a play. So she wrote it. To keep such an ambitious project going is a daunting task, but she does have plans... so keep your eyes and ears open and be sure to support it when it comes your way. You will certainly get more than the price of the ticket.
For those of you who are now very curious about this woman Avotcja, but don’t live in Northern California, don’t despair. She’s a humble artist who prefers promoting the art of poetry over her own merits (although she is always available for professional performances). But there are ways to hear her voice wherever you are.... For one thing she hosts two shows on KPFA Radio (and you can listen online): a Latin jazz show on Wednesdays from 10 am to noon, Pacific time, and on the third Wednesday night going into Thursday morning of each month, from midnight to 2 am she does a hardcore blues show. On KPOO Radio Fridays from noon to 3 pm, she does an international predominantly black music program (also streamed live on the Internet). You can read some examples of Avotcja’s poetry and get her professional contact information at Writers Register.
SEE WHAT AN OPEN MIC CAN DO FOR YOU
If you do live in the Bay area, maybe it’s time to see what an open mic can do for you. If you attend one regularly you are bound to see and hear from Avotcja eventually.
If you don’t even live in northern California, maybe it’s still time to see what an open mic can do for you. And when you observe someone your senior with a story written in their every move, don’t pass up the chance to talk to them and hear the story with your own ears.
Wishing each of you Peace and Poetry,
