Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam

“Whether they’re the fierce undercurrent of a poet’s musings or simply jammin’ on their own, the Jeff Robinson Trio exhibit a power and confidence that flirts with perfection.” Patricia Smith

July

Lizard Lounge Poetry Slam Team - 27
Starting in 200 the Lizard Lounge Poetry Slam Team has appeared in 8 National Poetry Slams with four appearances in the Semi-Finals and 3 poets have made it to the finals stage. This years team, (from left to right) Anaiis “Tai” Azur, Iyeoka Okoawo, Marlon Carey, Nicole “Cole” Rodriguez and Arthur Collins (not pictured) are ready to set the room on fire!!!

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Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo is one of the most sought after poetry slammers in the country. Among her lists of credits is being asked to compose and perform a poem for a dinner event hosted for Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda, being commissioned by Discovery Channel for their 2008 brand campaign, being commissioned by a top-twenty ad agency to write a piece for a diversity training tool, gracing the inaugural cover of the magazine Leverage, receiving a 2007 Massachusetts Industry Committee Hip-Hop Award for Spoken Word Artist of the year, and a New England Urban Music Award for the Best Female Spoken Word Poet of 2006. .

A 2x National Poetry Slam Individual Finalist, Iyeoka is also the only member of the nationally competing Boston Lizard Lounge Slam team to have earned her position seven years in a row. In 2008, Iyeoka’s vocal talents on a cover of U2’s 1988 hit song “Desire” was showcased on a compilation of U2 covers that includes All-Star Grammy Award winning African artists with proceeds benefiting the Global Fund. Iyeoka will help you to remember that there is no such thing as “slam poetry”, only three minute time slots where a poet tries to inject their heart into yours. Let her. .

Cd’s available online www.iyeoka.com: Black and Blues 2004 Phanai Records/ Hum the Bass Line 2007 Phanai Records/ In the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2 2008 Sony Records .

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Marlon Carey (aka Inphynit) is a dynamic poet whose genre-defying blend of hip hop poetry, theater and song make for a delicious and intoxicating brew. He is a mad scientist of words. Unafraid to be true to his origins, and unashamed of his college degree (BFA Creative Writing) Carey displays his mastery of the English language through bombastic performances and insightful intelligent lyrics that run the gamut of emotion and sentiment. He is without a doubt, one of the most amazing, exciting and innovative poets of his generation and a true catalyst of the Spoken Word Takeover. His new book, LAZARUS (St. Andrews College Press) will be available Fall 2008. www.myspace.com/inphynittheghost

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On the mic for less than two years, this will be Nicole “Cole” Rodriguez’s first year participating in the National Poetry Slam.

A mother, sister, friend, writer, teacher, activist, and lover of rhyme, Cole’s poetic work is a reflection of her life experience and vehement desire to tell the truth out loud. Constantly striving to move minds, her raw delivery has captured audience’s attention as a slam winner at the Nuyorican Cafe, Harvard University and Critical Breakdown, Boston’s only all-ages hip hop event. She has featured for Soulkore and BloodSkinLand Productions, The Providence Black Repertory Company and performed as a part of Rhode Island’s annual Sound Session. Passionate about working with young people, she performs regularly at community events and conducts workshops for schools in the Greater Boston area. Cole is currently at work on her first book.

Cole is a frequent salsa dancer, an avid Celtics fan and a beast in the kitchen.

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Anaiis Azur (Tai) carries many titles: Mother, Educator, Poet, Playwright, and Novelist to name a few; however, she finds herself most accurately described as imperfect. Anaiis has been featured on both page and stage, both as a member of the 2008 Boston Lizard Lounge poetry slam team and recently capturing the attention of the Boston Globe with the release of her book “Portraits” following a feature on local television program “Cambridge Nights”. However, Anaiis history within the word delves beyond her roots in the New England area, having shared the mic with such notable poets as Reggie Gibson, Patricia Smith, and Saul Williams, to commanding the stages of the New York Film Academy, and gracing the stages of the Arabic Language Institute in Fez, Morocco. Anaiis has proven herself to be a force within the evolution of words. Currently her projects include a theatrical adaptation of the photographic series “Surviving Torture” the atrocities of Sierre Leone and Liberia by Pulitzer winning photographer John Kaplan; as well as the debut of her first novel “Through My Daughters Eyes”. Despite her many accomplishments and various projects Anaiis remains the humble yet consummate fan of words; in an interview during a benefit for the NOWAC (New Orleans Women Artists Collective) Anaiis had this to say, “…We stand naked before a crowd, exhibitionist bearing all of our imperfections for the world to judge… I still feel the draft from the stares, and my stretch marks continue to apologize for their uneven tone…”

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Arthur R. Collins is a native of Boston currently residing in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He is an educator, counselor, community organizer and youth advocate specializing in at-risk youth with social, emotional and developmental needs. Arthur, a program manager in the Boston Public Schools, currently runs Out of Harm’s Way, a program located at the Henry Dearborn Middle School in Roxbury that addresses the developmental needs of students exposed to frequent community violence. Arthur works with the teachers and staff to develop various initiatives to create a climate where students will want to come to school because they feel connected and feel like they are a part of a community. One of the marquee initiatives is the L.I.V.E. (Loyal, Intelligent, Victorious, Everlasting) Brothers program, a mentoring club for boys. With over ten years of experience in program development, Arthur has held positions at the Bird Street Community Center, ABCD University School, Madison Park Development Corporation, and Consensus Organizing Institute. An avid community organizer, he is a founding member of the National Black College Alliance and the State of Young Black Boston, and a former Board of Directors member for the Committee for Boston Public Housing. Arthur’s work has earned him numerous awards and recognitions, including the 2008 Community Service Award from the Black Community Information Center. Arthur, a writer and poet who believes in the extraordinary power in words, facilitates writers’ workshops and speaks at various forums on matters concerning youth, education and community development. Most recently, he was the keynote speaker for the 2007 Boston Public Schools Summer Institute. As a spoken word artist known for his socially conscious poetry, Arthur has performed with many notable artists such as KRS-One, Heather B, Pharcyde and X-Clan. Arthur is a graduate of Boston Technical High School and Clark Atlanta University. He holds a Master of Science degree in community economic development from New Hampshire College.

August

Jade Sylvan - 3
“I moved to Boston in January, 2007. I created this blog to chronicle the experience of a struggling young writer in an old city rich in literary tradition, and also to provide commentary on the various literary events and gatherings around town.

I am aware of the difficulty many unknown writers have getting published and circulated. This way, regardless of whether or not I eventually succeed, the process will be recorded and available to anyone interested enough to read it.”

Her poems have been published in many print and online journals and papers, including Spare Change, Word Riot, and Zygote in my Coffee. She currently has one novel being represented by an agent to publishers, and is just finishing a second (which she is way more excited about, incidentally). When she was a kid she thought she controlled the universe. She currently has eleven tattoos.

Jose Gouveia - 10
Jose’ “JoeGo” Gouveia is a first generation Portuguese-American poet who lives and writes on Cape Cod. He was awarded “Poet of the Year” at the 2001 Cambridge Poetry Awards and was 1999-2001 Poet-In-Residence at Cape Cod Community College,; former Slam Master of Cape Cod 1996-2000, has an MFA in Poetry from New England College, is a member of the Highway Poets Motorcycle Club and founder of the Biker Poets & Writers Association. He is Editor of RUBBER SIDE DOWN, the biker poet anthology (Archer Books, LA) 2008. Jose’ also hosts “The Poets Corner” online poetry radio show out of Provincetown Community radio WOMR-FM and writes a monthly poetry column for the Barnstable Patriot. He has published 3 chapbboks of poetry, “What We Do” (Salt Winds Press, Cape Cod) 1997; “Ginsberg Is Dead” (Cape Cod Community College) 2000; and “The Slaughter of the Sacred Cow” (CapePoet Press) 2008. His first poetry CD “A Cup’a Joe” is forthcoming this April from WOMR studios, Provincetown.

Vernon “VCR” Robinson - 17
I was named Vernon C. Robinson by birth but the community and comrades mostly call me VCR. I am a poet/emcee and a cultural event organizer here in the Boston area. Born and raised in Dorchester, trying to build a positive community for those residing. Engaged in the poetry scene, the Hip-hop culture and all other various arts such as film, theatre, music, dance, etc. Been performing in a few cities and states in the United States such as New York, Connecticut, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Maryland, Providence, Dallas and Cleveland. Also visited Cuba in 2002 and met with sista Assata Shakur. Have performed onstage (or have shared the stage) with artists like Les Nubians, Amiri Baraka, The S.O.S. Band, New Birth, Medusa, dead prez, Lakeside, Pharoahe Monch and the Last Poets. I am currently running a poetry gathering in the Roxbury section of Boston called VerBaLizAtiOn, which is the longest running open mic spot in the city. I have also brought forth several annual events as well such as Megacipher (the biggest cultural event for poetry), Maylennium, Devotion…Black Love Day, Winter Words, Young, Gifted & Black (a youth of color event), The Red, Black & Green Affair (tribute to the late great Marcus Garvey) and two others no longer exist called “Body Language” and “SistaHood”. I currently have a CD out entitled “Poetic Insanity” and the feedbacks are unbelievably positive. I’m hoping to release a Kwanzaa CD soon which would be called “Habari Gani” as well as a poetry book. For those outside of Massachusetts…please pay a visit to Boston just for the cultural thangs that are happening!! PEACE! VCR aka VCR-RAH! aka The Uncanny One aka Luke Cage aka VCR-Mageddon

Influence - 24
Influence is a Spoken Word Artist Hailing from New Haven Ct. He has been referred to as Captivating, Profound and Hood all in the same statement. His words have inlightened & inspired youth and adults alike raranging fom concert and lecture halls to the classroom of High schools and Elementary school students. His performance and lecture resume includes The NAACP image awards, The play Ghetto Christ and a endless amount of collages all over the US, he is also in two up coming films Lady Day and Jammin Wit the Angles, to be released in 2009 and 2010. He is also the voice and featured artist for the clothing line Kennies clothing.com. Influence’s witings have been used as a part of New Haven’s Highschool English and social science department for the last 3years. His love for children lead him to Co-found a non Profit called The Universal Arts Movement, were he uses his talent as a writer to help the youth learn coping skills to deal with inner city life through the art form that saved his.If you want to know more about Influence contact him at one of these sources.

Margo Malia - 31
Poet, musician, songwriter, rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, singer. This is poetry with the metaphysical, warrior, earth lover, transformational, alchemy spirit. This is music from the hip, heart and gut. Classical trained student of 15 years on violin and piano turned self taught on voice and guitar. This is righteous anger and love from a serious athlete that got mono in college and had to find another outlet. At the time it was acting for the stage. These are sounds from a child of artists, a photography, film, television production student. This is a fight to incorporate all the arts into one. This is a performer working on film sets and shooting video to support the music career. This is from the perspective of behind and in front of the camera. This is music with a multi media staged event yet to be created. This is music from a theatrical mind. This is sonic energy with the intention to heal the broken and wounded. This is music for seekers, for those who hunger for enlightenment every day. This is 28 years of journal entries and self portrait photography. ~~~~ My first stage time began with spoken word. While in Boston, I immersed myself in the poetry community. I played keys for Boston pop band Ramona Silver which took me on an east coast tour with L.A. 80’s sensation The Call. My singing voice emerged while at the Poetry open mic with The Jeff Robinson Trio. Music and poetry came together until I was letting go. Very organic and natural. I went through an unlearning of my classical training and picked up the guitar and learned by ear and instincts. ~~~~ I have yet to integrate all the instruments I play into a recording project. The result is earthy, edgy, sensual music with the mind of a photographer.~~~ I am open to a manager/lawyer who can help me advance. I am a Hawaiian Island Creation. ~~~I perform spoken word and original music shows. Bars, caffe’s and coffee shops. I know how to change my energy for the venue. ~~~BA in Television Production and Photography ~~~College Basketball D3 ~~~Music Scholarship-classically trained on violin and piano. ~~~Well rounded/renaissance

September

Jamie Lisa - 7
I have been in love with and writing poetry since the age of 12 when I first discovered Kahlil Gibran and was “published” not long after by what I believe was the National Poetry Review. Unfortunately my babysitting money would not cover the cost of ever actually seeing that poem in print and I have damned ads in the back of teen magazines ever since!

By 8th grade I was allotted a page in my junior high yearbook for a poem dedicated to my class. However I did not like my class photo so I lack a copy of that poem as well. Once I reached college I decided all of my high school writing was as horrible, dramatic, and immature as the “love” I wrote about. In effect I have “lost” all of that as well.

My first surviving poem, titled “I” was written for my Global Studies class project and it went on to earn me an A in that class as well as earning me two more in other classes! One of my professors submitted it to a school publication which I have not seen printed either but heard it was the first page and did receive many congratulations.

By my senior year, with the help of a patient and pushy roommate, I was able to gain a little confidence sharing my work. Finally, almost 10 years later, I got to see myself published. The school’s annual literary journal, the Miller Hall Portfolio, chose 5 of my pieces, the most selected for publication than any other contributor.

Around the same time my college initiated a “poetry slam” night and there one of the professors directed me to the Cantab Lounge. I didn’t realize there was more than one difference between my school’s slam and the Cantab’s legitimate version. Though I was prepared to be judged, I was unaware of proceeding rounds and had nothing ready for a second go of it. Lesson learned, I research every place before I go there now. Since moving to the area I’ve become an adoring fan of the broad talent gracing the Cantab and Lizard Lounges’ stages.

More self-indulgent than anything else, I write for mostly myself. Though I prefer the role of a voyeur when it comes to performance poetry; when so many powerful, brave, and awe-inspiring poets share themselves on a weekly basis it seems only fair to put myself out there from time to time as well.

I have found nothing but graceful hosts along with open and supportive listeners of which I am very grateful. I am absolutely honored (and nervous) to be going on the same stage as the many artists I have come to love, admire, and respect. Throw in the Jeff Robinson Trio for the real charm and I feel like my 20 minutes of fame has been scheduled!!!

Oh yeah, my haphazard Media/Communications degree has bestowed upon me the lofty title of the most inappropriate receptionist in the greater Boston area as well as an assistant manager at one of the local music clubs.

CD Collins - 14
With ever-shifting personae, CD Collins’ narratives and pyrotechnic poetics transport the listener from the hills of Kentucky, along the boulevard Champs-Elysees and to the urban landscape she now calls home.

Collins has performed in various Boston area venues including The Charles Playhouse, The Landsdowne Playhouse, and Club Passim, as well as appearing in poetry venues and academic settings along the East Coast, South and Midwest.

Ms. Collins’ short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including StoryQuarterly, The Pennsylvania Review, Imagine, The South Dakota Review, Salamander and Phoebe. When accompanied by her band, Ms. Collins presents a captivating blend of Chamber Rock with Spoken Word that one reviewer described as “pure magic.”

Pincurl’s cassette Slow Burn was released in October 1997, followed by a compact disc, Kentucky Stories, released in March 1999 and funded by a grant from the St. Botolph Club Foundation. This disc won Best Spoken Word CD at the Boston Poetry Awards 2000.

Collins received two grants from the Somerville Arts Council - one in music, one in literature - and Cambridge Poetry Awards for Best Erotic Poem, Best Love Poem and Best Narrative Poem. The latter poem, “Promised Candy,” is included on her latest compact disc, Subtracting Down, a compilation of Post-Modern Mountain Storytelling & Song recorded with her band, Rockabetty. Also included on the CD is the track “Blood Orange,” which has been featured on the National Public Radio show “Here and Now.”

Five of CD’s poems - “The Fox, 1968,” “Promised Candy,” “Subtracting down,” “Self-Portrait with Severed Head,” and “Demimonde”-are included in the anthology The Boston Poet: Volume 1, Issue 1: Virgin Voyage.

Ms. Collins is an active member of The Writers’ Room of Boston.