The Jazz Beat Blues Poetry Ensemble

Lead by Namaya the Jazz Poet

The Studio@620 invites you to experience a truly unique, live performance blending jazz and spoken word on Tuesday January 23, 2024 at 7PM.

The Jazz Beat Blues experience is a high energy fusion of jazz, word, blues, with stories of: Stagolee, the jazz noir of Benny O’Shea, revelations from the prophet Manfred, Mango Love, the sonic explorations of jazz in a key of ku, in a weaving of jazz, blues and hip hop. Each show is a unique experience and as Namaya said, “Turn off your cell phone, turn on your imagination, and step into the cosmos of the jazz beat word experience.” Samples at www.thejazzpoet.com.

This ensemble, led by the jazz poet Namaya, who has performed on five continents and at venues like Apples and Snakes in London, Café Tetatret in Denmark, and Nuyorican and the Bowery in New York. He will be accompanied by Rick Adams, a saxophonist who has played in NYC and has been a leading musician in the Tampa Bay area for the past twenty years. On double bass, Jake Walker is a stellar bassist who has performed with the foremost musicians in the Tampa Bay Area.

The editor of Jerry’s Jazz Magazine, Joe Maita, said, “Namaya’s work is deeply rooted in the traditions of jazz and word. He honors the culture through his work, which is laced with the rhythm, irony, and creative soul the legendary figures would themselves appreciate.”

The earlier iteration of the Jazz Beat Blues founded by Namaya in 2000, performed on tour throughout the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Asia, and  the Americas. Namaya has performed with luminaries like Bob Dorough, Dave Amram, and Sheila Jordan who appeared in his production of the Beatnik Café: A Musical Revue of the Jazz Beat Generation.

“Namaya held the audience in his hand as he fearlessly created a show of improvisation. It was like watching a magician on stage, but this time with words that would appear and disappear, seamlessly bringing in the audience.” ~Magnet Theater in NYC

“We loved the show; it was a free-wheeling journey of love and play that delighted the audience.” ~The Australian Center for Performing Arts

The Aquarian said, “Namaya is the high-wire performance poet of the spoken word.”

“We loved hearing the band with their marvelous invention of word and jazz.” ~The Apples and Snakes in London

CLICK HERE to volunteer during this event.