Chromatology
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All Hands on Deck!
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UpSurge!
Produces entertaining cross-cultural performances
and products that contribute to progressive social change.
Voted "Best of the East Bay" (2003), the group was founded in 1990. UpSurge is an ensemble of piano, bass, drums, and frontline 'horns'—saxophone, trombone, and jazzpoets Raymond Nat Turner and Zigi Lowenberg, who bend metaphors and split similes throughout the swinging ride. On their recordings, several Bay Area luminaries also join forces with UpSurge as special guests.
With imaginative compositions, innovative arrangements and in-your-face consciousness, UpSurge is honing one of the most original group sounds on the music scene today. Their sound is a compelling mix of jazz, poetry and politics. But UpSurge isn't afraid to challenge fans or themselves by incorporating other elements such as funk, klezmer, calypso and found sound.
UpSurge is the ultimate hybrid. They're New York, and Los Angeles (co-leaders hail from both coasts). They're African-American, Jewish-American, and more. They march to a different drummer on the high wire of unpredictability. Their second release, Chromatology, mixes conscious words with assorted grooves and feels, dissolving boundaries that separate genres and people. This isn't surprising. UpSurge's diverse influences range from Abbey Lincoln, Sonny Rollins, to Allen Ginsberg, Amiri Baraka, Bertolt Brecht and Langston Hughes. The group's critically acclaimed debut CD, All Hands on Deck, garnered them an Indie Award nomination by the Association for Independent Music (AFIM) in 2000.
UpSurge has appeared at major festivals and venues including the Monterey Jazz Festival (with legendary drummer, Donald 'Duck' Bailey), Vallejo Jazz Festival, Panafest (Ghana, West Africa), Yoshi's, Cornelia Street Cafe (NYC), as well as Brown and Tulane universities.
Readers' Pick for Best Poet or Spoken-Word Performer: UpSurge!
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Event Calendar 2008
Click banner for MORE INFO!
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!
"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
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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 !
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"Free-pushing jazz band with
two strong poets out front…"
—East Bay Express
Fan comments from the UpS! Anniv Celeb:
"Thank you again for an exciting and joyful B Day celebration.Rockin',Rockin'
Must be satisfying to look back and see how well your hard work,talent and good sense(plus luck) have paid off. Go,Go,Go!
One love,"
ADM
"was thrilled to be able to attend your show at Anna's ... you sounded
and looked WONDERFUL. I was very impressed. A very polished and moving
experience. I'm really glad I could be there.
I'm sorry I didn't make it to the panels but hope those were great also.
Please keep me posted as to any events you do in the future.
I'm a big fan."
Yours,
Lea
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