Downtown Brooklyn will again sway to the hypnotic strands of reggae music and electrifying poetry as the Caribbean Cultural Theatre host its monthly after work jam session. Dubbed as ‘everything Caribbean and anything cultural’ this month’s program salutes national poetry month, and takes place at St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street on Wednesday, May 2 at 7pm.
Featuring two of the leading proponents of “dub poetry”, Malachi and JaBez, Evening Time – Breathing Fire: Poetry As Weapon examines Caribbean poetry as
a tool for social activism and change. Similar to America’s spoken word movement, “dub poetry”, is written in native Jamaican language over the
pulsating drum and bass sounds of Reggae. This program follows in the wake of the last Fall’s stellar session with Grammy Award nominee, Linton Kwesi Johnson. The event will moderated by the head of the Caribbean Research Center at Medgar Evers College, Dr. George Irish.
Malachi is an award-winning poet, critically acclaimed musician and filmmaker who hails from the parish of Westmoreland in western Jamaica. A fellow at the Mitchner Caribbean Writers Institute of the University of Miami in Florida, he has studied at the Jamaica School of Drama and the Florida
International University. Beginning with “Kimbo to Kimbo” in 1979, his recorded work has included the singles “I’m A Victim”, “Carl Stone” and “Drop It”. His “Free The Kids” was released in 1995 by his own recording company, 4-M Label, along with “Tribute” and “Liad Mout” (1997), and “Miss My Jamaican”
(1998). His critically acclaimed album “Throw 2 Punch” has dominated the reggae charts in the USA and Europe. Malachi’s latest album is “Middle
Passage”. His newly released documentary, “DUB POETRY: the life & work of Malachi Smith”, chronicles his career and provides an exposé into this uniquely Jamaican melding of spoken word and reggae music.
JaBez, a New York City based Jamaican artist and writer, represents a new generation of Dub poets. His fresh brand of performance poetry is infused
with reggae, ska, jazz, r&b and folk music. A recent headliner at the BAM Café series in downtown Brooklyn, his electric performance has captivated
audiences throughout the United States and the Caribbean. His critically acclaimed poetry has been printed in such publications as 'A Rastafari View of
Marcus Garvey' by I. Jabulani Tafari, ‘Reggae Roots and Kulcha’ magazine, and the Caribbean Voice
Newspaper.
The Caribbean Cultural Theatre is a Brooklyn, NY based performing arts company dedicated to using the arts as a tool for preserving artistic legacies and inspiring audiences, while being sensitive to the linguistic, social, political, and economic influences that give rise to Caribbean cultural
traditions. Additional information can be viewed online at caribbeantheatre.org or call 718-783-8345 for reservation.
Held in the Downtown section of Brooklyn, monthly theme-based sessions offer a potpourri of poetry, film, music, performance art, book signings, panel
discussions and open mic sessions, and afford audiences opportunities to meet established and immerging Caribbean and Caribbean-American artists. And every program ends with the audience taking center stage in an open mic sessions! Previous Evening Time programs have featured photo journalist Anthony Bonair, novelist and cultural scholar Dr. Kamau Braithwaite, dub poet and playwrights
Glenville Lovell and Trevor Rhone, pan musical arraigner Arddin Herbert, and reggae musician Shelly Thunder.
Evening Time - Breathing Fire: Poetry As Weapon
Wednesday, May 2, 2007 @ 7pm
Some of the leading proponents of Dub Poetry in the United States exhibit the passion and electricity that defines this unique melding of social consciousness, spoken word, and music.
Information/Reservation: 718-783-8345
Transportation:
Subway: A, C; F – Jay St./Borough Hall; M, N; R – Court St; 2, 3, 4; 5 – Borough Hall
Bus: B25, B26, B37, B38, B41, B45, B51, B52; B75 – Court St
Caribbean Cultural Theatre
138 So Oxford Street, Suite 4A
Brooklyn, NY 11217-1695
TEL: 718-783-8345
FAX: 718-398-2794
