PoeJazzi

So, if you missed it last night, PoeJazzi had its fifth anniversary show, featuring Mista Gee, Rosie Sleightholme, Sabrina Mahfouz, Scroobius Pip, Cornelia, and spur of the moment performances by creators (and, I’m lucky enough to call them good friends) Joshua Idehen and Musa Okwonga. Just a recap: The reason I go on about PoeJazzi is (that I’m biased, and) this is the night that featured Ed Sheeran before all but a few of his fans knew who he was. This is the night that featured Scroobius Pip before he was on the radio (and before he was widely regarded as a musician, rather than a poet). This is a night of cultural clout, genuine talent and genuine love. Boiled down, it’s very, very good, and it’s people and players are superb.

In the crowd last night were the wonderful photographer and musician Kim Leng-Hills; a stand-out poetic talent in Alex Gwyther; the intelligently curious minded, tweet-guru and top writer, Will Conway; the poet, playwright and graphic designer Inua Ellams; the supreme singer/songwriter, Louise Golbey and many others.

But the kind of people that this night attracts to play and watch was summed up by one person in one act. Not the generous applause given and richly deserved. Not the attention and respect given throughout the night. But the arrival of the true gentleman artist, Scroobius Pip.

I met Scroobius in 2006 before the first Poejazzi – I believe he was touring the country’s open mic nights in a camper van. We met again on the first PoeJazzi night. I saw him about the poetry scene for a few months and then caught up with him twice at Glastonbury 2007, just after he’d teamed up with Dan Le Sac, and where he performed once as a ‘rapper’ and once as a poet/a capella artist. Since then his career has really taken off. He’s released two albums with Dan Le Sac, made multiple appearances on TV and radio, launched a poetry book and, now, has his own solo album out.

And the thing is, apart from the unsteady and deep communication sea that is Twitter (and only there once or twice), I’ve not spoken to him for over four years. Yet, as I saw him approach the City Arts & Music Project on City Road near Old St, he walked straight up and greeted me like an old friend.

That’s class. After all, I’m not a national figure, am I. I haven’t released albums or books. The most that the world knows of me is probably wrongly identifying an advert’s theme tune. And yet, Scroobius remembers me from before his fame, as someone he met before he found international success. That’s telling of his character of course, but also of the sort of people PoeJazzi attracts to watch, perform and then come back to watch or perform.

So if you missed it, you missed out. But I’m sure there’ll be another time.

Bit of a new project that I’m hoping will be of help to those wondering what on earth barefoot running is, and where to start with the absolute mass of information that is out there.

I’m also going through one of those periods in life where I am abolutely addicted to the amount of information on TED. The place is a goldmine. My current favourites are:

[ted id=860]

and

[ted id=1227]

And who is Scrillex? Apparently some sort of sonic star, featured on the cover of Rock Sound. And listen to this:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Right, I’m now off to go and see PoeJazzi’s 5th Anniversary show. It should be awesome.

Cheers!

For eight years now, I’ve owned at least one guitar. For six I’ve owned two. For five I’ve owned three. But I’ve not been able to properly play any of them for eight. Absolutely appalling that is, so I’ve been hammering them a lot lately. I desperately want to stride into the decade doing more of the things I wish I could do, and to actively play – if not produce – music is one of those things. The other main thing I wan t do is to write more. It occurred to me today that the decade of 2010 – 2020 will be the decade that will, theoretically at least, see me hit my physical peak. If that happens, and my creative abilities follow suit (as I consider physical and mental states closely related), I want to be ready.

And as I want to write more, I’ve been doing a lot more reading – fuel for the fire etc. Ron Hogan, Den of Geek contributor, blogger extraordinaire, has an interesting point at his blog, Subtle Bluntness, about how the writer is dead, and that idea strikes me right between the eyes. Having wanted to be a writer since I was a very wee man, I see his fatal point, and I want to adjust for the future of my career and my creativity, wherever each may take me. Music might not ever be my bread-winner I understand,  but it can’t hurt to light another creative fuse in the battle to blow the paths open…if you get my rather convoluted meaning. Besides which, 2010 has been declared The Year Of The Poet by Poejazzi.

Now, as fantastic as it would be for me to be declared the winner of the National Poetry Competition in the year named that by some, I have to consider that it might not happen (I hope it does though), and pile my free time into showing the London poetry/spoken word scene what I have to offer in the lyrical department. Avec guitar or non, I’m sure the enthusiastic learning of it will enliven me to all kinds of rhythmic influence and inspiration. ”Big things“ has Poet, Author, Poejazzi founder and Benin City vocalist, Musa Okwonga said of 2010. Indeed, sir. I want to be a part of whatever big things will be happening in some capacity, and I also want to conjure ’big things’ of my own. So, though it’s a day before New Year’s Eve, I’m preparing for 2010 already. In fact I’ve been preparing for some days now; fail to prepare and all that.

So, if you weren’t at Poejazzi at Camden’s Proud Galleries last night, you missed out big time. It was the best damn Monday night I’ve had in a loong while, let me tell you. But ‘what did I miss?’ I hear you ask. Well let me tell and show you.

You missed (as ordered on the bill),

Tim Clare

Click here to view the embedded video.

Louise Golbey

Click here to view the embedded video.

Kasai Masai (http://www.kasaimasai.com/)

Benin City

Click here to view the embedded video.

…and 12 Tone Brass Band (clip quality not great).

Click here to view the embedded video.

All of who were fantastic.  But if you weren’t there then you missed out a bit. Which is a shame. However, tomorrow I’ll let you know about another grand happening in London town this Sunday. So don’t forget to check back then.

Cheers! Kev

So tonight I’m off to Poejazzi to watch some of the finest lyrical, musical, and generally scintillating acts around. If you’re in London you should really consider getting along to the next one (you can try this one, but it might be fully booked such is the popularity. No certainties though). I’m hoping to see a few friends, a few new acts, as well as some known, good acts performing new material and generally get some inspiration…for I have ordered my USB Condenser mic. Oh yes, I’m excited about that – new material to follow from yours truly certainly, heading straight to MySpace (and linked to here) *rubs hands gleefully*.

Anyway, thought I’d share that with you. Hope whatever your doing this evening is appealing in some aspect. K