April 20, 2007
CD Noted in the STL American
Some kind words on our latest project in the latest edition of the St. Louis American:
K. Curtis Lyle, a native of Los Angeles, once again makes St. Louis his home after sojourns in Brooklyn and Oakland. An intimate of many legendary black artists from the ‘60s, Curtis has worked through a wide variety of poetic styles. His mature approach is to write long narrative poems about strange, prodigious characters, such as the odd brothers profiled in his most recent art poetry chapbook, The Epileptic Camel Driver Speaks to a Refugee Death, which was edited by Chris King of the American and published by the local arts group Poetry Scores.
Curtis also has an astounding piece of performance poetry, “Nut Check,” on a remarkable new CD, Sounds, published by the local arts group 52nd City. “Nut Check” takes as its departure an obscene anecdote by Richard Pryor about white people having the impression that black men tend to clutch their groin. His performance of this hilarious and biting poem is accompanied by local saxophonist Dave Stone.
Sounds also features new, previously unpublished voice recordings of the great jazz creator Ornette Coleman talking about music in a way it has never been described before. This piece was recorded and edited by Josh Weinstein, producer of All Soul, No Borders on KDHX FM 88.1, which airs Thursdays from 10 p.m. to midnight.