Young and old packed Zele Café Sunday night for The Hudson Reed Ensemble’s performance of “The Beats…together again.” Those who ventured to the coffee shop were treated to an impassioned performance of seven poems complemented by a bassist who very nicely accentuating each poem’s mood.
Jack Kerouac, played by Kim Nuzzo, opened the reading, introduced himself as the “author of twenty novels, including On The Road.” With thick gray hair, a flannel shirt and raspy voice, it was easy to imagine that this man may in fact be Jack in his fifties, had he lived.
Jack introduced his old buddy, Allen Ginsberg as “the poet with an FBI file three feet thick.” Ginsberg, played by Ed Foran, recited “Sunflower Sutra,” a wonderful poem inspired by a hungover morning spent with Kerouac on the San Francisco docks.
Undoubtedly the most convincing of the characters was William S. Burroughs, played by Gary Morabito. Gaunt, with silver hair and black rimmed glasses, Morabito delivered a chilling excerpt from “Naked Lunch,” the book some consider to be Burroughs’ masterpiece.
Hunched slightly, eyes to the sky, Morabito began, “The Naked Lunch is a blueprint, a how-to book…how-to extend levels of experience by opening the door at the end of a long hall…”
Jack recited his poem, “The Scripture of the Golden Eternity,” a detailing of the time he briefly lost consciousness and was gifted a look into the hereafter. Kathy Pelowski performed Diane di Prima’s “Life Chant” and Lee Sullivan, who played Lawrence Ferlinghetti, recited two poems, “Christ Climbed Down” and “A Buddha in the Woodpile.”
“The Beats…together again” will be preformed again at Zele Café on July 30, 9:00 PM.
For more information, see the Aspen Post Calendar.
Hey Keith…
Thanks on behalf of the Hudson Reed Ensemble and the “Beats” for attending and for writing about
your impressions of our evening at Zele. It is mucvh appreciated.
Kent Hudson Reed
Hey Keith…
Thanks on behalf of the Hudson Reed Ensemble and the “Beats” for attending and for writing about
your impressions of our evening at Zele. It is mucvh appreciated.
Kent Hudson Reed
Many thanks to Zele for hosting “The Beats, together again.” We sincerely appreciate the enthusiasm and support we received from Lisa Zimet and her staff at Zele. As Keith said, it was standing room only with a cross section of Aspen locals and visitors alike. There was even a Buddhist Monk in attendance as well as a famous movie director. The idea behind the evening with the “Beats” was germinated by Kim Nuzzo (Jack Kerouac). Kim’s passion and vision for the evening inspired us as performers to work hard to capture the essence of the words of these great poets. We are all looking forward to our July 30 performance at Zele where we hope to pack the house once again!!
Ed Foran (Allen Ginsberg)
Many thanks to Zele for hosting “The Beats, together again.” We sincerely appreciate the enthusiasm and support we received from Lisa Zimet and her staff at Zele. As Keith said, it was standing room only with a cross section of Aspen locals and visitors alike. There was even a Buddhist Monk in attendance as well as a famous movie director. The idea behind the evening with the “Beats” was germinated by Kim Nuzzo (Jack Kerouac). Kim’s passion and vision for the evening inspired us as performers to work hard to capture the essence of the words of these great poets. We are all looking forward to our July 30 performance at Zele where we hope to pack the house once again!!
Ed Foran (Allen Ginsberg)