Talking Book : blues, jazz, dub, rap, song and freedom in the literature and orature of Montreal's Kalmunity Vive Collective

This anthology collects the words and thoughts of Kalmunitys rappers,dub poets, jazz poets, singers, and musicians as they reflect oncollective improvisation, freedom, love, history, politics, and thedivine. Two percussion players, one trap drummer, a bassist, aguitarist, a keyboardist, and three horn players cram onto a floor-levelstage. Twelve vocalists squat stage right, waiting for their chance totouch the mic. The air crackles with anticipation. In the crowd, Blacks,Browns, Whites are packed together so tightly that, as in the LangstonHughes poem about riding the New York subway, there is no room forfear. One person inhales anothers language. Welcome to KalmunitysLive Organic Improv at Montreal's Sablo Kaf.Essays by Dbi Young, Klyde Brooks, Dave Austin, Naila Keleta Mae, AndyWilliams, and others, explore the relationship that jazz improvisationbears to social organizing, the politics of stage performance, overviewsof the black music and oral poetry scenes in Montral. Talking Bookincludes a special section on songs and songwriting, onin-the-moment-live-organic improvisation.*kaie kellough* is an author, performer, educator, editor, and activearts organizer. His words make sound blue sense and be bop inflected.His first book, /lettricity/, was published in 2004. He was writer inresidence for the 2005 Toronto Int'l Dub Poetry Festival. He hasperformed across Canada and in the United States. His work has beenfeatured on national radio and television.*Jason "Blackbird" Selman* is a graduate of Concordia University with aBachelor of Fine Arts (specialization in Jazz Studies). He has beenperforming on the local arts scene as both spoken word artist andmusician for the last eight years. For the last two years Jason has alsoserved as a facilitator for the Black Theatre Workshops Youth Workstheatre program. Mr. Selman continues to fulfill himself both musicallyand poetically as part of the Kalmunity Vibe Collective.