Insomniacathon On-Line! - News, New and Of Note!

News, New & Of Note

Welcome to News, New & Of Note where you'll find the latest happenings from our friends and family in the Poetry, Music and Art world. Check back often as we'll update with the latest and greatest happenings as they cross our desks here at Insomniacathon.org

"Last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice.
So to that end is to make a new beginning."
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Of Note In this Holiday Season 2008, we here at Insomniacathon On-Line! wish each and every one Peace, Patience and Pace, right here, right now and throughout the New Year! Click Here for "A Wish and A Prayer"

Of Note! - Darkness Falls, Longer Days Ahead - Astrologick's Gary Paul Glynn illuminates on Winter Solstice - For those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun now reaches its annual nadir, appearing to pause over the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere, marking the Winter Solstice. The Sun’s yearly path as seen from Earth appears as a figure 8 (or a vertical infinity sign), known as an analemma; that mysterious device often seen depicted on the world atlas or globe. In Latin, the word “solstice” means “Sun stands still,” where the Sun travels along the top (summer) or the bottom (winter) of the analemma loop; rising and setting at the same time in the days that surround the solstice. This year, the Winter Solstice takes place on Sunday, December 21, just as the Sun enters Capricorn at 7:04 a.m.

Symbolically, the Winter Solstice marks a time of darkness and hope as the night has reached its greatest yearly depth, giving birth to a tiny spark of light that will grow in power and length over the weeks to come. It is here in the darkness that our enduring faith in the promise of renewal is tested and put to use; kindling the fire we carry within our hearts.
Also Of Note! - With the Holidays upon us all, Gary Paul Glynn has put together a two week Holiday Special of Astrologick daily forecasts to tide us all over until the New Year! Click Here To Read the Astrologick two week Holiday Special daily forecasts!

News & Of Note - This Little Light of Mine . . . All around the world, I'm gonna let it shine! - The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. called her "the Queen of American Folk Music" One of the most celebrated figures in music, singer, songstress and Civil Rights champion, Odetta, passed on December 2nd in NYC. She was to turn 78 this New Year's Eve.

For over 50 years, she was an indelible figure of hope and resolution, singing for American Presidents, walking arm-in-arm with the great leaders of the Civil Rights movement and served as an inspiration to generations of musicians, poets and human rights activists.
Back in May of 08' an evening of Song and Stories celebrating the LifeLoveWork of Odetta was organized by Michelle Esrick and hosted by Wavy Gravy where the faithful gathered at Banjo Jim's in NYC. Joining this joyous celebration was David Amram, Cheatin' Hearts with Sheriff Bob and Trip Henderson, Guy Davis, Timothy Hill, Emory Joseph, Christine Lavin, Madeleine Peyroux, Chaney Sims, Vincent Cross and Good Company,and a cavalcade of other celebrants.

NYC freelance writer, Safia Jama Cross was there and wrote this great story about this wonderful evening at Banjo Jim's, Click Here to Read his story at Indie Sounds NY. Also great Photos by Mark Amrhein, Click Here to View his Photos.

Odetta was looking forward to singing at Barack Obama's Inauguration, alas Life has a way of shifting gears, fortunately her indomitable Spirit and feverent Intent most certainly won't be denied. So on January 20th, listen with your Heart and keep an Ear to the Wind and let us all sing along with her, "Let it Shine, Let it Shine, Let it Shine!"

l-r - David Amram, Pete Seeger, Odetta and Toshi Regan, Beacon NY Summer 2008 - Photo by Maxine Smith and John Economos -

Also Of Note! Long time friend and compatriot, David Amram, shares a touching reflect of his good friend. Click Here To Read his reflect "For Odetta".

News & Of Note! - Now Is Still The Time! - 53 Years In Grennwich Village - David Amram and his Quartet with Kevin Twigg, drums, John Dewitt, bass, Adam Amram congas and Maria Teresa Colamonico, percussion bring the sound and sooth to The Cornelia Street Cafe on Dec. 1st. Featured guests are actor, John Ventimiglia and singer/songwriter, Morley Kamen. Other surprise performers will also appear. Festivities begin at 8:30.

News & Of Note! - Bringing It All Back Home! - On Nov. 22nd, Louisville Music and Poetry powerpoint, The Rudyard Kipling lights it's stage for a stellar evening of sound and sooth with Evansville favs, Will Sovern & Shakespeare's Monkey (w/special guest Lars Garvey), Herbal Jam, Star Pupil plus Louisville;s own, Ron Whitehead & Southside with special guest from Iceland, Michael Dean Odin Pollock who now hangs his hat in Kentucky and is the latest member of Southside. Show starts at 10 PM.

News, New & Of Note! American composer, musician and writer David Amram was born November 17, 1930 in Philadelphia. His eclectic use of jazz, ethnic and folk music has led him to work with the likes of Thelonious Monk, Willie Nelson, Charles Mingus, Leonard Bernstein and Jack Kerouac. Insomniacathon On-Line! celebrates his creative pioneering work and collaborations with stars from the worlds of music, literature theater and film. Click Here and join us at the Insomniacathon On-Line! David Anram 78th Birthday Party!

Also Of Note! Author and Playwright, Patrick Fenton checked in with a PraisePoem for David's 78th B-Day Salute! Click Here to read Pat's regale, Happy 78th Birthday David Amram!

News & Of Note - Mitch Mitchell, the innovative drummer who anchored the Jimi Hendrix Experience, died of natural causes on November 12 in Portland, OR, at the age of 62. On the night of his passing, Mitchell had completed the last show in Experience Hendrix an 18-city American concert tour series celebrating the legacy of Jimi Hendrix.

Conceptually rooted as a jazz drummer, Mitch Mitchell was tapped (along with fellow Brit musician, Noel Redding) in 1966 by then Animals bassist, Chas Chandler to back up a virually unknown guitar sensation from the US, Jimmy Hendrix for what was a supposed to be just a two-week strint of gigs to expose the great talent of this guitarist from Seattle.
Virtually personal strangers to each other these three elements culminated into the Jimi Hendrix Experience and the rest, as it is said, is History. Now this seminal power trio are reunited in that great gig in the sky. In reverence and homage Click Here for James Walck and The m2h Symphonia sonic soundscape, Starless.

News, New & Of Note! - On The Griot Trail - Keeping Orality Alive! - There are two consciousnesses: Orality and literature. A common misconception is that if you can’t read then you are illiterate. But of the 6500 languages in the world, only 700 are written down! Every two weeks, a language disappears. BUT– with digital, we enable orality to exist!
Founder and Ringmaster of The Bowery Poetry Club, Bob Holman and Kora sensation (and Griot guide), Papa Susso arrived in Dakar on Nov. 10th for a 7-week journey through Senegal, Gambia and Mali to capture the culture, sights and sounds of endangered languages from Timbuktu and beyond. In true 21st century fashion, a near-realtime weblog www.griottrail.com is chronicaling their trek in text, pix and clips. Click Here To Join Bob Holman and Papa Susso On The Griot Trail!

News & Of Note - "I will sing until the last day of my life" - Africa's "First Lady of Song", Miriam Makeba, collapsed shortly after a performance in Castel Volturno, Italy and passed away on November 10th. She was 76. In her dazzling career, Makeba performed with musical legends from around the world — the likes of Hugh Masekela, Harry Belafonte, Nina Simone, Dizzy Gillespie and Paul Simon to name just a few, her unique blend of Jazz and Afro-Pop communicated a positive message to the world about the struggle of the people of South Africa against apartheid and colonialism through the magic of her music. Click Here To Learn More about "Mama Africa" - Miriam Makeba.

News, New & Of Note! - Poets for Health Care Benefit - Currently there are over 47 million Americans without health insurance and another 50 million that are under-insured. There is a growing movement across the U.S. to support a single-payer, national health care system that would provide health care for all. It is well known in the indepenent artist community that it's nearly impossible to find affordable, quality health care. In an effort to help champion Health Care reform The Poetry Project is pleased to host Poets for Health Care at St. Mark's Church on Nov. 10th. This benefit for two of the leading health-care activist groups based in New York City: Healthcare-NOW, and the Private Health Insurance Must Go Coalition will feature poets, performers, and speakers David Amram, Vinie Burrows, Andy Clausen, David Henderson, Suheir Hammad, Frank Sherlock, Eliot Katz, Rachel Levitsky, Akilah Oliver, Katie Robbins, Ajamu Sankofa, Stacy Szymaszek, Rodrigo Toscano, Anne Waldman, Citizen Reno, Steven Taylor and others. Doors open at 8 PM, $8 general admission.

News, New & Of Note! - A Torch for Peace Burns in NYC - The Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival presents in the Allen Room at Lincoln Center the U.S. Premiere of the Teri McLuhan film, The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, a Torch for Peace on November 8th at 6 PM followed by a special concert performance at 8 PM by David Amram who composed, orchestrated and conducted the score for the film.
Over twenty years in the making, The Frontier Gandhi is about Muslim peacemaker, Badshah Khan who rose above the inconceivable violence of the Pashtun warrior culture of the Northwest Frontier Province to be pronounced "a miracle" by Mahatma Gandhi. McLuhan's film brings the Badshah Khan story to light and offers a poignant, eye-opening look at this man's vision for Peace. Also Of Note! - There will be a general screening of The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, a Torch for Peace as part of the Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival at the Tribeca Cinemas 2. on Sunday, November 9 at 3 PM.

News & Of Note! - Exit Poll 08' Party at The BPC! - On Election Night 08' the Bowey Poetry Club will host the alternative place to watch history unfold as the results of Election 08' take tangible form. In true 21st Century fashion, the BPC will be cabled up streaming TV and Internet results to multiple screens with live commentary on the BPC stage from resident politically incorrect pundits Jeff Mac, Eric Kirchberger, Chuck Funk and Remick Bernice along with a cavalcade of talented comedians, poets, musicians, and performance artists doing their thing, reverberating the collective spirit of the Lower East Side. Festivities begin on this fateful first Tuesday of November at 7 PM. Be There for This Affair but if you can't You Too can weigh in, check out and learn about it all! Just Click Here!

News & Of Note - So Long, It's Been Good To Know Ya'! - The Pulitzer Prize-winning author, radio host and activist whose writings captured the spirit of the everyday working class JoMoke, Studs Terkel, passed peacefully at his home in Chicago, on Friday, October 31st. He was 96. Terkel was part of a great Chicago literary tradition which included Nelson Algren, Theo Dreiser and Mike Royko just to mention a few. In July, Garrison Keillor, visited with Studs just to catch up, compare notes and take names, (Click Here To Read Garrison's Story) and at the end of their visit, Studs sent Keillor home with this little benediction . . .

"Every night when the sun goes down

I say a blessing on this town:
"Whether we last the night or no,
Life has always been touch and go.
So stick with your modus operandi.
Ingenuity! Guile! Art! Good luck. Good bye."
So Long Studs Terkel, It's Been Good To Know Ya'! Click Here To Learn More About this true American Treasure who will be sorely missed but most assuredly, fondly remembered!

News & Of Note! - Thinking Big: The 19th Annual Chicago Humanities Festival! - The sweep and scale of human ambition: the grand gesture, the great scheme, the Big Idea. Founded in 1989, the Chicago Humanities Festival brings brings the world's most exciting thinkers to Chicago each fall for a Festival celebrating ideas in the context of civic life. On November 2nd, in collaboration with the Chicago Humanities Festival and Columbia College of Chicago’s Film and Video Department , David Amram will grace the stage of the newly restored Morse Theatre to share his LifeLoveWork with Chicago and the CHF celebrants. Show starts at 8;30 PM. David also takes part in the Movie Beat Series at Film Row Cinema (1104 South Wabash, 8th flr.) on Nov.3rd, 6:30 PM, as he discusses his cinematic musical contributions after a screening of Elia Kazan's Splendor In the Grass which he composed the soundtrack for. For More Info on the 19th Annual Chicago Humanities Festival, Click Here!

---------
New and of Note! For this year's Halloween, "PoorBob" Sushko weighs in with some Swamp Sooth on
SAMHAIN (Halloween) Le Grande Sabbat, Day of the Dead, Shadow Feast, All Hallows Eve, Old Hallowmas, All Souls Day, Last Harvest and how to be a real Zombie! Click Here to read his hoot!

News & Of Note! - “Life is a struggle, it’s a theater, all life is a work of art,” - The Stella Adler Studio of Acting celebrates Harold Clurman, "the Elder Statesman of the American Theatre."