Monday, February 16, 2004

A round table on the practice of spoken word with seven top performers. A not-to-be-missed opportunity to hear diverse points of view in an intimate setting. With: John SOBOL (Toronto), NAH-EE-LAH (Toronto), Anne WALDMAN (USA), Ursula RUCKER (USA), Fortner ANDERSON (Montreal) and francophone poet Tony TREMBLAY (Montreal).

The round table will be recorded by CBC Radio One for later broadcast.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Ursula RUCKER got her start in 1994 when she recited her own poetry at an open-mic night at Philly’s Zanzibar Blue. She has become one of today’s top young spoken-word artists. She has collaborated with some of the most innovative artists in music and delivered the closing poems on the three studio releases by Philadelphia hip-hop stalwarts The Roots. Attracted to diverse genres, with roots firmly grounded in hip hop, Ursula RUCKER has released two solo albums, 2001’s Supa Sista and 2003’s Silver or Lead. She redefines spoken word with her trademark socio-political urgency and sweet «song-speak.» Montreal guitarist Bernard FALAISE, known for his versatility and improvisational talent, will back her up for this performance.

Intimately linked to the Beat Literary Movement and the new American poetry, Anne WALDMAN is a poet, performer and professor at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at the Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, a program she co-founded with poet Allen GINSBERG in 1974. She has extended performance to new dimensions with her "modal structures," as in the celebrated "Pieces of An Hour" (for John Cage). She has published over thirty books, participated in shows and festivals all over the world, and collaborated with a number of artists including Steve LACY. Anne WALDMAN will perform with saxophonist Devin WALDMAN, with whom she appeared in New York for the tribute to Bob Dylan on his 60th anniversary.

To make this a truly memorable evening, we have rounded out the all-female line-up with three talented Canadian performers: Montreal’s Alexis O’HARA and Catherine KIDD, and Toronto’s NAH-EE-LAH.

A special evening of women performers with intense personalities and intriguing inner worlds. Come share in the fusion of words and music, body and soul.

The two special guests will give MASTER CLASSES at Sala Rossa. Anne WALDMAN: Monday, February 16, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm /-/ Ursula RUCKER: Tuesday, February 17 11:00 am to 1:00 pm /-/ For further information and to sign up, please contact Eric Lewis at improv@mcgill.ca.