Greetings UpSurge! Community,

For Immediate Release                             
March 10, 2008  
Please Contact: Raymond Nat Turner 
(510) 835-5348   raymond@upsurgejazz.com

Bay Area JazzPoetry Festival Builds on its Smashing Success
and New York-Bay Area Connection

Event:              2nd Annual Bay Area JazzPoetry Festival
Date:               Saturday, April 26, 2008
Time:               7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location:        Berkeley Hillside Club 2286 Cedar Street, (510) 848-3227 www.hillsideclub.org
Admission:     $20

Festival Lineup:
Jessica Jones Quartet featuring poet Arisa White
Yancie Taylor Quartet featuring poet Julian Carroll
Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein) and Her Trio
UpSurge!

As only the great Count Basie could put it: "Let’s try it one more once!" he called out at the end of his classic "April in Paris." April in Berkeley will once again be filled with jazz and poetry. Building on the enthusiastic crowd response to its 2007 debut, the 2nd Annual Bay Area JazzPoetry Festival returns to celebrate April's intersection of Jazz Appreciation Month and National Poetry Month.
"The mix of spoken word with the soundscape of music was incredible.
It was like painting on a canvas with emotion-colored paints. Strikingly beautiful." (from a First Annual Bay Area JazzPoetry Festival audience member)

On Saturday, April 26 the festival continues its mission of presenting jazz and poetry collaborations from both New York and the Bay Area. This year's line-up includes:

--The New York based Jessica Jones Quartet featuring poet Arisa White. Berkeley High "jazz factory" alums Jessica Jones and Tony Jones, are perhaps the only avant-garde, tenor-sax playing husband-and-wife tandem in jazz. Their 15-year track record revolves around experimental composition, freer forms and collective improvisation.

--Singer-poet Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein) and Her Trio. Mentored by saxophonist Jackie McLean, Lisa B grew up in NY and California. With two poetry books authored and three CDs released "daring, dexterous singer, songwriter, and poet Lisa B...appeals to both traditional and contemporary jazz tastes and even...hip-hop hipsters." (Philadelphia Daily News)

--Yancie Taylor Quartet featuring poet Julian Carroll. A genuine Bay Area treasure and acclaimed vibraphonist, Yancie has entertained audiences at numerous clubs and festivals with jazz giants such as Pharaoh Sanders and John Handy. Whether he's performing here or in Tokyo, France, Holland, or Germany, Yancie spreads the truth of his motto: "Love, Peace, and JAZZ GREASE!"

--Berkeley-born, Oakland-based jazzpoetry group, UpSurge! is "an ensemble that earns its exclamation point with dynamic performances that capture the soul, humor and off-the-cuff inventiveness of a cascading saxophone solo." (Andrew Gilbert, Contra Costa Times) 

Hosting the Bay Area JazzPoetry Festival for the second time is the enchanting and sonically superb Hillside Club. Located at 2286 Cedar Street the Hillside Club is just up the block from some of the Bay Area's best eats.

The 2nd Annual Bay Area JazzPoetry Festival 'begins serving' promptly at 7:00 PM, so be there...when food for thought and soul gather in the Gourmet Ghetto.

Festival tickets are $20 at the door.

The Festival appreciates generous support from Poetry Flash, KPFA, KCSM, KALW, KPOO, Cafe de la Paz, Berkeley City Councilmembers Max Anderson and Laurie Capitelli, Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) and National Poetry Month.

For more info: 

www.upsurgejazz.com

"This event is supported by Poets & Writers, Inc. through a grant it has received from the James Irvine Foundation"
We also want to thank the Berkeley Public Library
------------------------------------

Kickoff Events:
SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2:00-4:00 PM 

Light, life, grahhrr...Poetry and Jazz
with legendary poet Michael McClure and saxophonist George Brooks
Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge
FREE
------------------------------------

SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 3:00-6:00 PM
The Word-Music Continuum CD Release Party for "Song Poems"
Kirk Lumpkin-poetry and percussion, Paul Mills-guitar, and Mark Wieder-double bass
Meet the artists, get the new CD, and join in celebrating!
Anna's Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley, (510) 841-JAZZ
FREE!

*******************************

THANKS, THANKS, THANKS to those of you who communed with us Sunday evening at Anna's Jazz Island. We're so grateful for the packed house and one could feel the inspired energy buzzing in the venue at the break. We had a message to deliver AND we had fun! You all sounded angelic on the chorus of "A Child's Questions" and of course, we all got down together on "Oaktown Blues--Just Like That." Kudos to Muziki Roberson for a great job sitting in for Tammy. And a special thank-you to Steve Gilbert for sharing his GI anti-war activism experiences.


UpSurge Photos ©2007 Debra St. John

* We had a very, very special guest. Richard's phenomenal 9 year-old son Elé Howell joined us on Djembe drum, even taking a solo on "Bridging." He also re-visited his opening line on "A Child's Questions." And if that weren't enough, he sold a bunch of our CDs!

* We introduced two new pieces, "Privatize This" and "Bitter Tears." Raymond and Zigi even surprised the rest of the band with the two pieces, and judging from your enthusiastic responses--they're keepers.

* Thanks to the parents who brought their school-age children. The children's energy was especially UpLifting! It also served as a reminder of why we want an end to the predatory wars being waged in our names.

* You are the best audience in the world. With your vibrant diversity in ALL ways, you truly represent 'another world' that is not only possible--but partly here.

* While the under 10 crowd was represented, octogenarians should feel proud as Barbara Dane represented her age group with gusto! She joined us along with Anna de Leon to sing "Down By The Riverside" ("Ain't gonna study war no more"). We couldn't help but take it out into the audience parading like a second line for a great end to the evening!

Anna de Leon, Barbara Dane and Angela Wellman

Also, while we're not encouraging consumerist madness--we do want to let you know that if you're wanting a holiday gift with a message, Chromatology Singles with two anti-war tracks "The Game" and "Operation Homefront" are available for only $5 directly from us. Just drop us an email. And of course our full length Chromatology CD (pictured below) is available online: UpSurge website.

Click cover to purchase

An update from our friend and legendary KPFA and KPOO programmer, Avotcja
www.Avotcja.com
The 1st & 3rd Sunday of every Month (Sundays November 18th, December 2nd & 18th) a Bilingual Open Mic Poetry/Music series in English, Spanish, Spanglish y Lo Que Sea
THE MUSIC OF THE WORD (LA PALABRA MUSICAL) Hosted by Eric Aviles & Avotcja
3 - 4:30PM
No Cover (Donations for features accepted & don’t forget to bring your Congas, Guiros, Maracas, Panderetas etc.) It’s always a word party to remember!
@
SOFRITO
(a taste of La Isla del Encanto in the East Bay)
3451 Internat’l @ 35th Avenue
Oakland, CA (510)533-3840
(there's plenty of free parking in the rear)
####

Respectfully,
UpSurge!
www.upsurgejazz.com




 
photos-Debra St. John
 
"Thank you all for an awesome and inspiring evening. It was really tops. Affectionately..." --an Upsurge fan

We love hearing back from you after gigs. The quote is from our summer gig about which San Francisco BayView columnist Wanda Sabir said "All the hip folks were at the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music Tuesday, July 3, for an alternative Independence Day event." 

We're stamping our mark on your calendars for another alternative celebration.

Are you ready to commune for an Alternative Veteran’s Day? Then join us Sunday, November 11 at Anna’s Jazz Island when UpSurge will perform several anti-war pieces including premiering a new piece, “Back on Track” by our trombonist and vocalist Angela Wellman. We’re also excited to put our UpSurge sound on classics—we will feature anti-war poems from Allen Ginsberg and Gertrude Stein.
 
As well, hear anti-war veteran Steve Gilbert, a founding member of the legendary anti-war army newspaper F*T*A*. Steve will speak on his experience with anti-war activism as a GI. 

Get inspired, gather strength, renew our commitments to end the carnage. We're pointing at the grassroots when we exclaim—WE WANT YOU! The best audience in the Bay. Please spread the word and tell two or three others...
 
UpSurge! 
Raymond Nat Turner and Zigi Lowenberg-jazzpoets; Angela Wellman-trombone and vocals; Richard Howell-saxes and vocals; Tammy Hall-piano; Ron Belcher-bass; Rob Rhodes-drums.
Sunday November 11
7:00 PM
Anna’s Jazz Island
2120 Allston Way
$10
www.upsurgejazz.com

**********************************************************************

Our deepest heartfelt THANKS to those of you who joined us earlier this month for the Frederick Douglass Day / Alternative Fourth of July Celebration on July 3. Seeing your faces, hearing your voices, applause and "Just like thats!" made our night. Your hugs, kisses and handshakes were delicious desserts after seven courses of soul food.

San Francisco BayView columnist Wanda Sabir said "All the hip folks were at the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music Tuesday, July 3, for an alternative Independence Day event." See Wanda's Picks for the full review. 

We hope UpSurge provided your alternative to the bellicose jingoism and that you had as much fun as we did. We performed "Tribute To The Trees" and "2020," two pieces that will certainly grace our third CD. 

Speaking of the third CD, we will of course again be raising money to record. just like we did for Chromatology. These projects cost thousands of dollars. But more on that later...

In the meantime we know you have lots of creative ideas about all kinds of things so...What should we call this project? We want your suggestions for names for CD #3. If your suggestion is chosen we will bestow goodies and make a fuss over you (or not, if you prefer!) Looking forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully

UpSurge!

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