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| Dan Jaffe and Mike Melvoin at the Cutting Room Renowned jazz poet Dan Jaffe and highly acclaimed pianist Mike Melvoin have joined forces to celebrate a collection of Jaffe's vivid poetry with a unique collaboration titled, Playing The Word. This duo, along with the rhythm section of Bill Goodwin, Steve Gilmore and blues singer David Bassewill bring this rare blend of jazz and poetry to New York City for a late night set at The Cutting Room on Saturday, June 17. The poetry Melvoin embraces on Playing the Word, is from Jaffe's book of the same name, which deals with a number of intriguing jazz experiences. Over fifty musicians are referenced in Jaffe's book of jazz poetry, including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk. The book also memorializes lesser-known jazz artists like the great Kansas City pianist, George Salisbury. Jaffe's poems evoke the essence of the jazz world. James Tate, Pulitzer Prize winning poet called them, "so vivid and passionate I could hear the tunes and see the smoke. The book is a great work of love." Jaffe brings his poetry to life with a dynamic spoken word interpretation, delivered with impeccable timing and rhythm. The music provided by the masterful keyboard work of Mike Melvoin completes the jazz dialogue. Together, Jaffe and Melvoin educate, enlighten and entertain with a true passion and reverence for this great American music, the players who immortalized it, and lived it. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |