Thinking about riffs, Nina Simone, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame 2018 Induction ceremony, Jeffrey-Paul Horn and “word, revisited”

If you are a musician or aficionado of popular music, you probably know and understand the concept of the riff.  Now, why that is an integral component of this blog posting is tantalizing even to me! But the overall ambiance and after impact of the 5^th installment of the “word, revisited,” literary event cast and lodged that term in the forefront of my mind…looping, repeating, weaving in and out, and staying on point, focused. 

Every so often, I ask my readers to bear with me.  This posting is such a time. So, stretch or tuck your legs beneath you and travel with me…we may bob and weave; run and hide; skip and jump.

So, hold on.

Here we go, yet again, and maybe at the end of this blog, you will better understand why I decided to riff…somewhat…maybe so…maybe not!

Nina Simone, a legendary artist and personality in jazz circles, popular music in general, and a stalwart supporter of Civil Rights.  Simone was finally inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, Class of 2018. The televised induction ceremony was a classic programmatic event for HBO. Ms. Simone was inducted and feted by an all-star cast of vocalists and musicians who presented her famous songs. Unfortunately, the producers, HBO and guest performing artists missed the mark…maybe intentionally; maybe out of benign ignorance. (And maybe, just being cowards, which is the American response to issues of race and its dastardly affect on people of color.)

From my perspective, you cannot celebrate Ms. Simone without citing her pivotal, controversial, and woman of color strengthening and defining song, “Four Women.”

https://youtu.be/dTFelOQGI5o

Would you cite Billie Holiday without “God Bless the Child” or “Strange Fruit.”

Would you cite the Rolling Stones without recognizing “Get Off Of My Cloud, “Satisfaction” or even “Brown Sugar?”

The Temptations without ‘My Girl.”

The Miracles by not recognizing, “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me?”

Simone's proper recognition was an opportunity blatantly missed by the “Hall.” But, if you were in the Carriage House Theater last week, you witnessed …did not miss….

Jeffrey-Paul Horn who was the “word, revisited” featured speaker on Thursday, May 10^th. 

Jeffrey-Paul Horn, featured poet, "Word, Revisited,"  May 10, 2018 (Photo credit:  Lisa Brennan)

Mr. Horn (who may not realize it) exists in the ever reigning, everlasting, and fierce influence of Ms. Nina Simone, who consistently spoke her mind regardless of consequences, straight up, no chaser.  (Thank you Mr. Thelonious.)

Jeffrey-Paul Horn is iconoclastic, independent, unapologetically cloaked in gracious sensitivity and sublime and critical understanding of the human condition. 

His poems traverse just being about people, lust and coyotes, silence, insecurity and angst, spirituality and mysticism, love, rhythms and life intricacies, aging, vagrancies of time, and moving on.

Jeffrey created a direct relationship with his audience during his Q and A, and provided further insight into his personality and his writing.  

If you can, see and listen to him at the next opportunity.  Embrace how his person is wrapped in "Live like Dragons." 

Top Row left to right:  Jeffrey-Paul Horn, (featured poet/word, revisited, Raymond Remu (open mic), front row left to right:  Kirsten Wise, Curator/Cayuga Museum, bill berry, Jr., CEO/Publisher aaduna Inc., Jennifer Maloney (open mic), Ron Newman (open mic), and Ron VanNostrand, Publisher/Olive Trees and "Word, Revisited" M.C.  (photo credit:  Lisa Brennan)

The open mic session was intimate, intriguing and struck chords of emotions that resonated with the audience. Raymond Remu, Jennifer Maloney and Ron Newman articulated a variety of themes and nuances that were far ranging while also being up close and personal. Insanity, being between a rock and a hard place, knowing pain, surety, psychotropic drugs, and the depths of understanding of reality and dreaming Electra. This session also traversed the ease with words and the complexities of ambiance; being optimistic about the future; the impact of murder not achieved on the victim; simplicity of thoughts fueled by silence; the nature of freedom and the completeness of love.      

Horn, Remu, Maloney, and Neman by grasping unique and different ways of expression, riffed in the best tradition of that practice; empowered the memory of Simone’s diverse creativity and fierceness of character, and further cemented the literary legacy of “word, revisited” sponsored by the Cayuga Museum of History and Art, print publication Olive Trees, and exclusively on-line literary and visual arts journal aaduna.   

I riff all the time and am proud of it!

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Join us at the 4^th annual aaduna fundraiser on May 24^th featuring poets and writers, Howard Nelson, Vanessa Johnson, Karen Faris, Doug Curry, and Charles “SeaBe” Banks with live music by Joe Whiting and Terry Quill. Cayuga Museum’s Carriage House Theater doors open at 6 PM. Music kicks off at 6:15. Readings start at 7 PM.

Visit http://www.aaduna.org/fundraiser2018/ to purchase tickets in advance 

This event is funded in part by Poets & Writers with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

aaduna, Inc. the publisher of aaduna and the sponsor of the fundraiser is a NYS registered non-profit corporation and a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization.    

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Join us on June 14^th at the Carriage House Theater and welcome writer David Connelly as literary event sponsors (Cayuga Museum, Olive Trees and aaduna) close out the spring 2018 season of “word, revisited.” $3/person; open mic sign up for the Connelly event at 5:30 pm.  A cash bar for beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks where the proceeds directly and exclusively benefit the museum will be available at the aaduna fundraiser, as well as at the Connelly featured presentation.      

Just to make sure you have the right info, the aadunafundraiser and Mr. Connelly’s talk will be convened at the Carriage House Theater located behind the Cayuga Museum at 203 Genesee Street in Auburn, NY.

"word, revisited" is not associated with any other sponsoring entity

in its bi-monthly literary series.

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