Home » Events » CoPUS and N-Side, the healer – A Night of Jazz Poetry

CoPUS and N-Side, the healer – A Night of Jazz Poetry

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Date/Time
Date(s) - 06/28/2018
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Location
Octopus Literary Salon

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Once again the powers of N-Side, the Healer, and CoPUS join forces for a night of poetry, jazz, thoughtfulness, and celebration. Fresh from New York performances and award nominations, CoPUS guarantees an experience of sound and hope at the delightful Octopus Literary Salon that offers live music and poetry 6 nights a week in downtown Oakland.

CoPUS is an acronym for Creation of Peace Under Stars. Founder poet/spoken word artist Royal Kent has opened major reggae concerts for Peter Tosh, Toots and the Maytals, and the Wailers. Composer/pianist Wendy Loomis is 4-time winner of the ASCAP composition award.

CoPUS actively performs around the Bay Area, in New Orleans, Boston, Nashville, Los Angeles, Atlanta and in New York City. In April they were featured at the SFJAZZ Center as part of a special poetry and jazz festival engagement.

Their CD “Aspects” received critical acclaim and was on the official 2017 Grammy ballot for ‘best spoken word album’. CoPUS recently released the single “We All Bleed Red (Steady for Justice)” produced by New York-based GRAMMY nominee Yaron Fuchs, the piece has been receiving great reviews; it’s been called an anthem for our time. The song was in the running for ‘best rap single’ and ‘best spoken word single’ by the Independent Music, Round Glass and GRAMMY Awards for 2018. CoPUS can perform with 2-6 players, depending on the stage and situation.

“…(CoPUS music) paints with a broad palette of jazz, classical, new age, avant garde and world colors, fusing styles ranging from Debussy to Thelonious Monk.”

“…(CoPUS words) demonstrate a reverent, mystical interest in the workings of life and spirit while displaying sly humor and side-long glances at tricks of the mind’s perception.”

Norman A. Woods chose to be recognized onstage as N-Side, the blessed one. In 2017 his release “And You See Me” was nominated for “Best Spoken Word with Music” and in 2018 his CD “No Live Recording Will Be Wasted” was nominated for “Best Eclectic EP” and “Best Live Performance EP” by the Independent Music Awards held at Lincoln Center in New York.

N-Side’s poetic work is done in a traditional non aggressive style, which reflects his love of poetry from the “Harlem Renaissance” era. Most of his poetry is influenced by the writing of Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, Arna Bontemps, Countee Cullen and so on. His contemporary jazz influences include, but are not limited to, Red Garland, Donald Byrd, Gil Scott-Heron, Sekou Sundiata and his favorite poet, Kamau Da’aood.

N-Side and COPUS performed together in a double-bill at The Back Room in Berkeley. The response was tremendous! We expect the same will be true at the Octopus Literary Salon!

Food, beer and wine available. Walk to 19th Street BART.

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