Antonio's Rituals... is a spellbinding couplet of jazz and poetry (jazzoetry) on a CD. The "in-the-moment jam session" combines a unique blend of written and spoken word, paired with the most rewarding auditory experience, stimulatingly reflective of Maya Angelo's reading "On the Pulse of the Morning" at the 1993 inauguration of President Bill Clinton. As Maya Angelo's piece moved to an understanding of unity in words, so too, has Antonio's Rituals in the Marrow...move the listener in an understanding of how melody, jazz, and mysticism are paired, compared, and reveled while listening.
'Rituals...' features 12 tracks:
Track 1: "Foreign Monkey," which was inspired by a stone sculpture of the same title by Daisy Youngblood.
Track 2: "Ballard Mombo," inspired by a composition by musician Warren Smith entitled "Marion's Mambo."
Track 3: "Shade of the Cedar Tree," inspired by Christian McBride's big band composition of the same titile.
Track 4: "Tangerine Moon," is the endless wait for the return of a loved one from a dangerous situation.
Track 5: "Every old NY Jazz Club," is the feeling Antonio had while sitting in her second or third jazz club.
Track 6: "See-line Woman," inspired by Nina Simone's "Sea Lion Woman."
Track 7: "Bluesman/truth Be Told," really adds up to the A and B side of a 45rpm record.
Track 8: "Koto Suite," inspired by the music of June Kuramoto.
Track 9: "Pullman Porter," inspired by a NY Times article dated April 4, 2009 on the life of the Pullman Porter.
Track 10: "Witness," is the intersection of social injustices, civil rights and jazz.
Track 11: "Duchess," inspired by Mark Taylor's composition, "Duchess."
Track 12: Rituals in the marrow: Recipe for a jam session talks about the blues. The cadence of the voice in collaboration with the music moves like a New Orleans second line.
"I often go to live jazz performances," spoke Antonio, "and write down the images that come to me from listening to the music and watching the musicians' physical reactions to the music" E. J. Antonio.
Also, the accompanied book contains the written version of the CD. First, I encourage listening to the CD before following along with the companion book. I found it enjoyable to try to read along with Antonio and flow with the jazz and blues rhythm created by the musicians which made for a totally unique experience and an overall appreciation for the CD and the energy that went into the total work.
Article comments