MP3 Larry Winfield - Erzulie Freda

Intelligent poems from different perspectives of 'erotica', delivered by "the poet with a voice like chocolate," backed by smooth and scary jazz mutations

21 MP3 Songs
SPOKEN WORD: Poetry, SPOKEN WORD: With Music



Details:
Bio:

Chicago saloon poet Larry Winfield began writing in the early 80s and attended his first reading at Weeds in 1990. Over the next twelve years he hosted open mics at The Gallery Cabaret, The Underground Wonder Bar and Yo Ma's, featured at many local poetry venues and festivals, organized the protest poetry reading at the ' 96 Democratic Convention, for two years hosted a weekly poetry and jazz show on pirate station Guerilla Love Radio as DJ Merlot, published the poetry books "Rosedust", "Erzulie" and "Wicker Park Sonata" and the online/print zines Liquid Glyph and City Table Review, produced short films, and performed in Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, NY, LA and SF, and with ensemble groups Brothers in Verse and the many versions of his poetry band Brass Orchid. He currently lives in L A and is writing his first novel.


Review:

Chicago-native / LA-transplant saloon poet Larry Winfield has a ton of experience performing his ambient, sexy poetry to various jazz styles, from the many versions of his poetry band Brass Orchid, to way back when, when he shared Chicago stages with other big names with the ensemble Brothers in Verse. His voice has matured over the years and this fine audio CD is a prime example of how putting poetry to music and burning it onto a disk can work. Winfield's commanding, hypnotic verse pops like an opiate seed, casting a trance and then prompting giddiness. His wit and sense of suspense burns like a dancing flame, intense in its timing and delivery. With the pronunciation of a real professional, Winfield's words ride the waves, poetic and highly lingual. There are 21 poems in this project and each one has been studio worked to perfection, making this one of the finest audio collections I have ever heard. It is a book that you don't have to read. You can plop it into your computer and enjoy it.

While listening to Erzulie Freda at times I had to laugh out loud. But this was not due to some stand up comedy bit, but the result of Winfield's masterful use of tone. A moan or an extended bout of 'Barry White' worked so well with the content, and relaxed enunciation combined with images as disturbing as three nipples, hit the stomach in its funny spot. Yet there is such experience shared, that an earnest sympathy for the humanity expressed in this work can't help being felt. It is poetry to fall in love to, so laid back it kicks you without moving. It touches upon the complexities of knowing someone, the consequences other lives have on the self.

This CD is cool, crisp, and fresh. It's a great trophie of the Chicago saloon poetry scene that began in the late 80s. Winfield has lost none of his erotic good taste.

--C. J. Laity, chicagopoetry.com