A Night for the Books – Improvisational Sound Poetry with Aisha Sasha John
Friday, May 30 was a double bill of Improvisational Sound Poetry with Aisha Sasha John in concert with the Improvisational Sound Trio, Donkey Lopez. At Arraymusic, 155 Walnut Ave, the audience was dazzled by lyric and sound.
Aisha Sasha John launched the evening into the mesosphere, where the shooting stars burn blindingly spectacular. Three musicians accompanied her in her staggering ascent: Bea Labikova, Raphael Roter, and Michael Lynn. Bea Labikova ravished her alto saxophone, and she also laid it to rest as she brandished the fujara, a wind instrument originating in central Slovakia known as shepherd’s flute. Raphael Roter created a percussion soundscape with his extended techniques on the drum kit, his ankle encircled with ghungroos. Michael Lynn coaxed the electric bass to ecstatic reverberations. In the presence of these captivating sounds, Aisha Sasha John proclaimed her poetry. Through precise articulation and purposeful repetition, Aisha captivated the audience. Sections of her new book, Thou, took on contrasting ethereal and physical meaning. Her sound poetry demanded a re-reading and even a re-envisioning of her text for her readers and listeners.
Following Aisha Sasha John and Trio, Donkey Lopez gave its first extended public performance to mark the launch of its CD, Juan Lonely Night. Donkey Lopez is comprised of Ray Dilliard’s percussion and synthesizer stylings, Steven Lederman’s percussion and horn performance, and Stuart Ross’s vocalizations.
It was a night only fully captured in experience: a night for the memory, a night for the books.
Do not wallow in the sadness of missing this event! Instead take action! These next two events might be of interest:
Monday June 2, 2014
Rowers Pub Reading Series presents Aisha Sasha John, author of Thou and Erin Moure, coauthor with Chus Pato of Secession/Insecession
Where: Supermarket
Address: 268 Augusta Avenue
Toronto, ON
Time: Doors at 6:45 PM. Readings at 7:15 PM
Free. Voluntary donations appreciated. Door prizes. Books for sale.
For more information, visit here
Wednesday June 4, 2014
Pivot at the Press Club, Season Finale, presents Aisha Sasha John, author of THOU
Other readers: Angela Hibbs, Suzannah Showler and Jim Johnstone
Hosted by: Jacob McArthur Mooney
Where: The Press Club
Address: 850 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
Time: 8:00 PM
PWYC (Suggested: $5)
For more info visit https://www.facebook.com/events/597062510401772/
Always keep your eye on the BookThug event page! We hope to see you there.
The views expressed in this BookThug blog entry is held by the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of BookThug.
Kristen Smith received her Bachelors of Arts in English at Mount Allison University (Sackville, New Brunswick). In 2006, she was awarded the Graham Atlantic Writing Prize for her collection of poetry, Voices. Additionally, Kristen was selected as one of six poets internationally to participate in the Writing With Style program at the Banff Centre, Banff, AB (2012). In both her creative and her academic writing, Kristen explores themes of absence, nostalgia, and belonging. She currently studies at Ryerson University where she is completing a Master of Arts in Literatures of Modernity. Kristen lives in Toronto with her husband.
