Poetry Picks: The Best CDs of 2007

(Paris Records, 2007) In this year’s best Poetry CD, Sanders, still hammering the dulcimer of the efficacy and sweetness of the Beats, utilizes his Investigative Poetry techniques and aesthetic to give the full backstory to the unbearable tragedy still in progress (!) in New Orleans. From NOLA’s founding in 1718, through the Battle of New Orleans, the rise of Creole culture and voodoo, all the way to Katrina, here is a poem series via CD that by itself contextualizes the whole of this most amazing, perfect American City. The music by Mark Bingham is copiously on point, a full aural landscape. Hats off to Michael Minzer, CEO of Paris Records and producer (with Bingham) of this urgent masterpiece in bayou time.

(Blue Note Records/EMI, 2007) Vega’s tribute to New York City wanders the noir alleys of the 40s (“Frank and Ava”), visits the Low East of the 70s (“Ludlow Street”) and contains the instant classic love song (to the City), “New York Is a Woman.” With spare settings that blossom with backup voices as needed, this is a true poet’s album, and one of La Vega’s best ever.

(Modiba/Word Village, 2007) Sad year 2007 also saw the death of the living link between Jeli and the Blues, Ali Farka Touré. This is an astonishing first album from his son. Its brilliant tension of roots and electric gives hope to the continued exploration of how music fared the Middle Passage.

(Red Thread Records, 2007) Folks, if you’re looking for the deepest connect of poetry and rock’n’roll, the soulful verbalities of hey, you! Junior Burke will keep your mind dancing all night long. Backed by a totally swinging band with some real pretty picking, mark this one the Poetry Party of the Year, where everybody’s dancing, talking, and making love to and with language. Right now I’m devoted to “Bed Full of Blue” and “Walkin’ My Karma,” but the hits be changing often. One for the iPod!

(ACLU, 2006) We need more of this: nonprofits, political groups and cultural centers commissioning poets to perform and make CDs. inSECURITY begins with a shout-out to the ACLU, then moves into a live performance duet that’s all poetry, no propaganda. A bravura piece, with two remixes, one in studio and another live.

Well, here’s the extraordinary 25th compilation of Australia’s classic aural lit zine, still championing the underdog. So far in the US: Goose Egg. Going Down Swinging this time is a double disc: “New Australian Spoken Word” is a glorious introduction to a varied scene; the generous disc two, “New International Spoken Word,” is the closest we’ve got to a global poetry CD sampler. Prime Hits include Jayne Fenton Keane, David Thrussell, Libby Angel, Sean Whalen + the Mime Set, Brad Armstrong, Alicia Sometimes on the Aussie disc, and Taylor Mali, Victoria Stanton, Edwin Torres, Fortner Anderson, Ian Ferrier on the Global disc.

Three guys who met at Rutgers and now have one of the tightest poetry posses in town release a CD that has more tech prowess than most pop records. “Martin Luther Queen” is astonishing in political urgency woven into a hilarious poem performed as a bravura duet. This is a great album to learn by, to check the state o’ art. With overtones of the Firesign Theater and bows to hiphop, nuyoriqueno, this is full out poetry.

(AUM Fidelity, 2006) How’s this for an amazing story? After some 30 years as a highly-regarded professional musician, having formed the seminal Jazz Passengers unit and recorded with everybody from Elvis Costello to Deborah Harry to Jeff Buckley, the man decides he’s a poet, of all things. Goes back to school, gets his MFA, along the way discovers that these two arts ain’t separated by the Not-so-great Wall, and forms “Sotto Voce” to celebrate this ultimate remix: the musician becomes the poet, the poems become the songs, and the album is chock full of Now. Beauty. Tender. Wild. Jazz! Great band –- especially noted are the verbal pyrotechnics of human beatbox (also a poet) Napoleon Maddox, who needs a CD of his own.