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Today:
Snaps for the Kerouac Opener
Posted: Jun 27, 2008 in Things to do, Culture, Music
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So. I'm a hopeless thirty-something (remember that TV show?) "On The Road" romantic. I love the great stream-of-consciousness be-bop lingo of the book and the American spirit it represents, not to mention its place as fuel (plus matches) for this country's counterculture. Then there's that handsome Jack Kerouac: They don't seem to make them like him anymore. An optimist, I'm holding out hope.
For months, then, I've been beside myself over the Indianapolis Museum of Art's plan to offer Kerouac's "On the Road" scroll/manuscript for public view, courtesy of Colts and scroll owner Jim Irsay. Alone, it would have been enough. But on top, they gratefully added Robert Frank's circa-1950s road trip photos to the FREE extravaganza, as well as a musician who was unknown to me until this week: David Amram.
To kick off opening day, Amram -- a New Yorker who is in his 70s and collaborated with Kerouac decades ago -- scheduled a beat-style jazz show at the museum last night. Accompanying him were two amazing local guys ~ groovy bass player Frank Smith, and smooth-as-silk drummer Kenny Phelps.
Following my workday, I headed for the arty haven with a jazz-loving pal.
The whole soul-quenching experience ended up as a series of firsts for me: *First beat poetry reading experience. *First introduction to dreamer Amram, who graciously signed his most recent book with individual messages for each fan and, if you got lucky, a little Kurt Vonnegut-like drawing (the IMA staff offered free copies of the book). Amram also encouraged creativity of all sorts while simultaneously playing tunes with an impressive kaleidoscope of instruments, including the keyboard, a French horn, pennywhistles and a Lakota courting flute (who knew?).
Oh, and there's a fashionable side note: Amram wore a crazy multi-bead, multi-memento necklace (as well as several cool turquoise rings). After the music, he said the accessory was a collection of items from places he's been and various people he's met. It even included a Pitkin County (Colorado) Sheriff's deputy's badge, which once got him out of a bad spot in NYC, he said.
Oops, I digress. More firsts:
First glass of wine at the museum ~ the ideal spot for such a thing.First time hearing the talents of Phelps and Smith. *First time hearing Indiana Poet Laureate (In the area of titles, that's a cool one. Don't you think?) Norbert Krapf do his thing.
Ah, What a flipping blast!
Lila is right. This was an outstanding, uplifting, memorable evening at IMA. David Amram spread his energetic sand inspirational spirit through his music and comments, Kenny Phelps, and Franks Smith were stellar on drums and bass, and some of us were lucky enough to have our recitation of Kerouac's words lifted up by the music and sent out to a wonderful audience. An evening like this can only build spirit and a sense of community.
I would like to invite everybody to come to my poetry reading Wed. night 7/2 at 6:00, my first as The Other IPL (Indiana Poet Laureate), followed by an open mic, in the new series at The Brick Street Inn, Zionsville; my reading from a new prose memoir about my southern Indiana childhood at Bookmamas, Irvington, Sat., 7/12, 1:30; and a Poet Laureate Party at the American Cabaret Theatre, in the Athenaeum, Sunday, 7/27, 5:30, free and open to the public. Monika Herzig and Friends and I will perform our blend of poetry and jazz, CEO Mark Kesling will announce the details of a new series I am putting together, Together Again: Music and Poetry, and we'll all celebrate.
Let's all keep the energy generated by Ice-T's recitation of Langston Hughes' poem sequence "Ask Your Mama" in collaboration with the Ron McCurdy Quartet and the Indy Symphony Orchestra and the David Amram-Jack Kerouac jazz and spoken word event and the scroll exhibit at IMA rising higher and higher!