Kenneth patchen 19111972 was a poet, playwright, fiction and fable writer, artist, and performer of poetry jazz, working in the tradition of engaged writing which he helped to forge in america. Kenneth patchen december, 1911 january 8, 1972 was an american poet and novelist. Kenneth patchen with the chamber jazz sextet kenneth patchen with the chamber jazz sextet reads his poetry with the chamber jazz sextet album 2 versions. In the s patchen collaborated with the jazz bassist and composer charles mingusreading his poetry with mingus group, but no recordings of the collaboration are known to exist. An inspiration for the beat generation and a true peoples poet, kenneth patchen was a prolific writer, visual artist and performer whose exuberant, freeform productions celebrate spontaneity and attack injustices, materialism, and war. They also performed at the arts club and university of british columbia and for television on the canadian broadcasting. The first part appeared in paj 11 volume iv, numbers 1 and 2.
Patchen s biographer wrote that he developed in his fabulous fables, love poems, and picture poems a deep yet modern. Though he denied any direct connection, patchen s work and ideas regarding the role of artists paralleled those of the dadaists, the beats, and surrealists. The skaters the album title is oh what a blow that phantom dealt me. In ron reges piece he compares patchens abstract, beautiful, intense jazzpoetry collaborations to kerouacs bombastic tone reading to jazz. Forerunners of the style included the works of vachel lindsay, who read his poetry in a syncopated and rhythmic style for audiences. Kenneth patchen pennys poetry pages wiki fandom powered. Authors of such poetry attempt to emulate the rhythms and freedom of the music in their poetry. Patchen s shtick is that of a sleepwalking seer, his stream of consciousness words somehow meshing with the abstracted style of the music to great effect. With the composer john cage, he created the radio play the city wears a slouch hat broadcast in 1942, and in 1957 he performed with the chamber jazz sextet, helping to further jazz poetry. Be a voice, sky, that her beauties may be counted and the stars will tilt their quiet faces into the mirror of her loveliness. Kenneth patchen december, january 8, was an american poet and novelist. One of his most lasting innovations was poetryjazz. Jul 12, 2000 larry smith kenneth patchen poetry and jazz days, 19571959 this is an excerpt from chapter fourteen of kenneth patchen. This was one of his remarkable early poems, written in 1943 and recorded with a jazz.
Patchens biographer wrote that he developed in his fabulous fables, love poems, and picture poems a deep yet. Kenneth patchen collection university of texas at austin. The sterling example is kenneth patchen reads with jazz in canada 1959. Kenneth patchen was born into a poor family in niles, ohio. The sound of greenwich village, and kenneth patchen reads his poetry with the chamber jazz sextet. He recorded kenneth patchen reads with the chamber jazz. Patchen dislocated a disk in his spine, an incessantly painful injury, which he lived with for a span of nearly thirty years, before seeking treatment. This was one of his remarkable early poems, written in 1943 and recorded with a jazz sextet in 1958. In the 1950s, patchen received praise from the jazz critic ralph gleason for his jazzpoetry readings with the chamber jazz sextet at the blackhawk club in san francisco.
Jacket 12 larry smith kenneth patchen poetry and jazz. Over the course of his career, which included about forty books, patchen tried his hand at several types of poetry. Gleason wrote, i think patchens reading technique presents the possibilities of an entire new medium of expression. Kenneth patchen performed on stage together at the living theatre in. American poet and novelist kenneth patchen 19111972 reads 19 poems in this folkways recording. Poems of kenneth patchen poem hunter quotes poetry. When patchen recorded his jazzpoetry readings, one of the resulting albums drew praise from the poet john ciardi, who wrote that patchens. Producing a book a year during his writing life, his work and life stand as a huge exposed girder in the structure of american culture and art. When the jazz horns rail out on me i was reading in the frisco chronicle kenneth s obituary how poets have to endure late recognition standing there in my rainbow of a scarf my sister gave me by the glowing sunny bay wanting to ask kenneth for help gawking at the dawn sky hearing the gulls along sidewalk cafes. When we last leftoff kenneth patchen he was beginning his career as a proletarian poet in the 1930s, writing a strikingly prophetic in both senses of the word poem about what the middle of the 20 th century was holding in store. Complete your kenneth patchen with the chamber jazz sextet collection. Kenneth patchen s vibrant designs fuse poetry and image september 21, 2011 on sept. Kenneth patchen reads with jazz in canada folkways fl9718 kenneth patchen recorded in vancouver with the allan neil quartet. Kenneth patchen reads with jazz in canada smithsonian.
Patchen was also interested in collaboration and multimedia experimentation. As early as the late 1940s, patchen was performing his poetry to jazz accompaniment, inspiring the bay area poets to do likewise. Kenneth patchen reading his work with the alan neil quartet. Producing almost a book a year for 36 years, his work stands as in the structure of american character and art. American poet and novelist, kenneth patchen, was largely selftaught and never seemed to gain widespread recognition from the prominent literary critics or. Kenneth patchen reads with jazz in canada smithsonian folkways. In addition to the poetry and jazz movement, patchen made important contributions to at least three other areas of poetic experimentation. Ill leave it to you to decide if that poem also speaks of our 21 st centurys future. Throughout his career, patchen experimented with poetic writing styles and forms including reading his poems set to jazz music. It was given a second chance last night at the living theatre, 530 avenue of. O my darling troubles heaven june 28, 2019 june 28, 2019 frank hudson when we last leftoff kenneth patchen he was beginning his career as a proletarian poet in the 1930s, writing a strikingly prophetic in both senses of the word poem about what the middle of. Apr 18, 2012 kenneth patchen 19111972 was a poet, playwright, fiction and fable writer, artist, and performer of poetry jazz, working in the tradition of engaged writing which he helped to forge in america. A few years before, patchen had begun a series of collaborations, performing and recording with the chamber jazz sextet in san francisco, the bed of roses chamber group in seattle, the alan.
He experimented with different forms of writing and incorporated painting, drawing, and jazz music into his works, which have been compared with those of william blake and walt whitman. In 1958 kenneth rexroth published an appreciative essay on patchens wor and verbalized a theme of the 1950s. He experimented with different forms of writing and incorporated. He enjoyed publishing in his school newspaper, kept a diary from the age of twelve, and began reading homer, dante, shakespeare, robert burns. He moved to wisconsin after high school and studied at the university of wisconsin. If you can find rebel poets of america, id say thats the one to own.
His first published work was in his high school newspaper. Kenneth patchen is accompanied here by the jazz noir tones of the chamber jazz sextet, playing woodwind based compositions specifically written for these poetry recitals. Patchen, born in 1911 in the ohio steelmill town of niles, lived and wrote mainly on the east coast until 1950, when he and his wife, miriam, moved. I came across kenneth patchen only recently, through a poem of his read by johnny dowd on an album by jackie leven. His readings of poetry with jazz were a phenomenon in the 1950s. Though he denied any direct connection, patchens work and ideas regarding the role of artists paralleled those of the dadaists, the beats, and surrealists. For seventynine recorded seconds in 1957, poet kenneth patchen and a group of jazz musicians achieved a perfect melding of minds and biorhythms. Reads his poetry with the chamber jazz sextet discogs. In 1955 patchen underwent a successful spinal fusion operation and experienced good health for the first time since his accident. Some remember patchen for his crossover experiments in art poetry and jazz poetry. Patchen seemed destined to a life of physical labor in the local steel mills before a scholarship to the university of wisconsin took him away from the industrial ohio valley and allowed him to take part in the alexander meikeljohn experimental college. Kenneth patchen, one of the 20th centurys leading experimentalists, gained widespread attention and notoriety through such books as the journal of albion moonlight 1941. A poor boy throughout his childhood, he spent his time playing football and working in a factory. Recorded with the alan neil quartet, it features some of patchens bestknown poems interactively read with a hot jazz band.
Patchen s ambitious body of work also foreshadowed literary artforms ranging from reading poetry to jazz accompaniment to his late experiments with. Kenneth patchen reads with jazz in canada by kenneth patchen. Although he did not consider himself to be a beat poet, and disliked the association, he was dubbed the. He experimented with different forms of writing and incorporated painting, drawing, and jazz music into his works, which were often compared with those of william blake and walt whitman. Kenneth charles marion rexroth december 22, 1905 june 6, 1982 was an american poet, translator and critical essayist. Sitting across from me was a shavedface allen ginsberg with crutches. The journal of albion moonlight smithsonian folkways. Patchens ambitious body of work also foreshadowed literary artforms ranging from reading poetry to jazz accompaniment to his late experiments with visual poetry which he called his picture poems. Kenneth patchen poems by the famous poet all poetry. Kenneth patchen has been working with allyn ferguson and the chamber jazz sextet. City wears a slouch hat broadcast in 1942, and in 1957 he performed with the chamber jazz sextet, helping to further jazz poetry. He appeared on radio programs, television, in nightclubs and on the concert stage with jazz groups in 1957 and 1958. I first discovered the poetry of patchen in the basement of city lights bookstore in 1970. This later poetry evolved from the more textoriented poetry of academia into the bardlike traditions of the performative and political poets who use colloquial language and theatrical recitals to politicize the lyric.
In ron reges piece he compares patchen s abstract, beautiful, intense jazz poetry collaborations to kerouacs bombastic tone reading to jazz. Kenneth patchen, a pioneer in avantgarde poetry, the picture poem, and poetry jazz, was born on december, 1911 in niles, ohio. Far more of the greatest jazz is written music than the lay public realizes. Kenneth patchen 19111972 was a poet, novelist, artist, performer of poetry jazz in the tradition of engaged writing which he helped forge in america. This is an excerpt from chapter fourteen of kenneth patchen. A jazz lover, patchen often read poetry to jazz accompaniment, and he also collaborated with john cage and charles mingus.
Born in niles, ohio, he was an avid reader as a child and kept a diary from an early age. The sterling example is kenneth patchen reads with. Jazz poetry, poetry that is read to the accompaniment of jazz music. Kenneth patchen reads his poetry with the chamber jazz. His over 40 books of poetry include wonderings 1971, but even. Patchen was an unwavering pacifist and many of his works have a political bent. I was intrigued and deeply moved by the poem itself and by the way it was performed and set to music.
Kenneth patchen reads with jazz in canada is for completists only. Music profile for kenneth patchen, born december 1911. Thy guidesman touching the green flesh of the world. The jazzpoetry connection barry wallenstein this is the final part of a twopart essay on jazz poetry. He then held a variety of jobs as a migrant worker in the united states and canada, and ended up in new york city, where, in 1936, he published his first book of poems, before the brave. And cuts clean through the smog of smoke and talk and tinkle. In other words, poetry gives jazz a richer verbal content, reinforces and expands its musical meaning and, at the same time, provides material of the greatest flexibility.
Considering the long history of jazz poetry, no two figures dominate its modern phase as do kenneth patchen and kenneth rexroth. Patchen s ambitious body of work also foreshadowed literary artforms ranging from reading poetry to jazz accompaniment to his late experiments with visual poetry which he called his picture poems. With only a few days rehearsal, patchen and the alan neil quartet had melded into a unit that would produce on february 18th, one of the best poetryjazz recordings of all time, kenneth patchen reads with jazz in canada folkways 1959 taken from their radio broadcast. The journal of albion moonlight smithsonian folkways recordings. Almost 40 years after his death, patchens works continue to intrigue and in spire lovers of modern literature and art worldwide.
Aside from his many books of poetry, his acclaimed novels, and his concrete visual works, kenneth patchen also collaborated with john cage for the radioplay the city wears a slouch hat, and worked with charles mingus developing jazz poetry. His lifelong romance with writing commenced at age twelve, when he took up keeping a diary and reading the works of famous writers. Kenneth patchen december 1911 8 january 1972 an american poet and novelist. In the last two weeks of march 1959, the jazz bassist charlie mingus and the beat poet. Patchen termed his work poetryjazz and not poetry and jazz because he believed in the complete fusion of the two mediums, not just the accompaniment of one by the other.
Jazz and poetry, a mixture brewed in san francisco, sputtered and fizzled when it was introduced to new york last year. This recording, issued originally on folkways records, documents a 1959 session patchen made with alan neils jazz quartet. Writing in a style which, like the poetry of langston hughes and kenneth rexroth, was often referred to as jazz poetry, patchen struck up a publishing relationship and friendship with james laughlin, the original publisher of new directions, in 1936. Patchens readings on rebel poets are topnotch, and the jazz accompaniment which consists of fergusons original compositions that he tailored for each individual poem is also excellent. Kenneth continued his poetry jazz until 1959, when he spent two weeks in new york with charlie mingus. Patchens poetry and prose has always had a strong following in the jazz community. On december, 1911, kenneth patchen was born in niles. Saxophonist peter brotzmann continually cites him as an influence, as does bassist william parker.
Charles mingus, kenneth patchen and jazzpoetry fusion art jstor. Patchen seemed destined to a life of physical labor in the local steel mills before a scholarship to the university of wisconsin took him away from the industrial ohio valley and allowed him to take part in the. Almost 40 years after his death, patchen s works continue to intrigue and inspire lovers of modern literature and art worldwide. The performance was recorded by the canadian broadcasting corporations studio in vancouver, canada, and broadcast later that year. Patchen also performed his poetry with charles mingus in the 1950s but no recordings are known to exist. Poetnovelist kenneth patchen 19111972 was a figure in new york citys greenwich village literary scene, which folkways records founder moses asch documented. Patchens ambitious body of work also foreshadowed literary artforms ranging from reading poetry to jazz. Perhaps most notably, patchen engaged in the visual arts, creating painted poems throughout his career. I loved the combination of jazz and poetry blended together each stating something important and each trying to get my attention. The murder of two men by a young kid wearing lemon colored gloves 2. He is regarded as a central figure in the san francisco renaissance, and paved the groundwork for the movement. Almost 40 years after his death, patchen s works continue to intrigue and in spire lovers of modern literature and art worldwide.
Some critics have compared his work to the poetry of walt whitman and. Kenneth patoiten, poet, dead at 60 the new york times. Kenneth patchen reads his poetry with the chamber jazz sextet. On this day in 1911 kenneth patchen was born in niles, ohio. Reads his poetry with the chamber jazz sextet 1957 duration. In this 1959 release, novelist and poet kenneth patchen reads original poetry while the alan neil quartet plays jazz standards in the background. Producing almost a book a year for 36 years, his work stands as in.