Caribbean Review of Books

I was honoured this month to have 2 poems - 'Blues for Cousin Alvin' and 'Bosch's Vision'- both from my forthcoming collection Bird Head Son included in the cuurent issue of the acclaimed Caribbean Review of Books, the regions foremost literary journal. See the CRB website for more info on the issue, its definately worth subscribing to the CRB if you want to keep up with Caribbean literature's past, present and future.

Bird Head Son - cover

This is the cover from my forthcoming poetry collection 'Bird Head Son', due from Salt in November 08. The image is of my brother and I one Carnival Monday, up Ramkissoon Trace, San Juan, circa 78/79, getting ready to go into Port of Spain in tracksuits we got from England. Dennis is in red with the gangster lean.

River Breakin Biche - from 'Bird Head Son' Audio

River breakin biche is a poem from my forthcoming collection 'Bird Head Son'(Salt 2008).
The poem speaks of 'breakin biche' or 'playing truant'. (Biche = fr -Bush) - So we left school and went to the river bush...it speaks of these adventures along the banks of the San Juan River...from San Juan Government Secondary.
I'll be posting more poems and audio here leading up to the books publication later this autumn, so check back often.

Woman on the bass - Trinidad All Stars, Panorama Finals 1980

1980. All Stars playing Scrunter's 'Woman on the bass' with an arrangement by Leon 'Smooth' Edwards. One of the greatest Panorama performances.

May spirits build nests in his beard

'I like to play fast. I get excited, and I have to sort of control myself, restrain myself. But when the rhythm section gets cooking, I want to 'explode'. --- Johnny Griffin - April 24 1948 - July 24 2008

"Unquestionably Johnny Griffin can play the tenor saxophone faster, literally, than anyone else alive. At least he can claim this until it's demonstrated otherwise. And in the course of playing with this incredible speed, he also manages to blow longer without refueling than you would ordinarily consider possible. With this equipment he is able to play almost all there could possibly be played in any given chorus." - Ralph Gleason

Snowdonia

Saturday morning
Climbing through Snowdon in a gust of fine rain
down from devil's kitchen
picking up crytstals
on the shores of Llyn Idwal

Dream on Corbeau Mountain - Live in Studio

Dream on Corbeau Montain live in Studio de Meudon near Paris, France. You will find it on Anthony Joseph and the Spasm Band's forthcoming album 'Bird Head Son' to be released in fall 2008.


Featuring :
Anthony Joseph : vocals, Andrew John : bass, Colin Webster : saxophone
Adrian Owusu : guitar, Paul Zimmerman : congas / djembe, Paul Brett : irons / snare / cymbals, Craig 'Cigar' Tamlin : misc percussions, special guest : Joe Bowie on trombone, Jean Paul Gonnod : sound engineer, Julien : engineer assistant, Antoine Rajon : producer.
Filmed and edited by Martin Meissonnier and 'Campagne Première' crew