Jane SpokenWord the Poet
"I'm just a ream of paper and a burning hot f'n pen!"
Books & Music
Word Against the Machine
"The ferocious dialogue and the harshest imagery is tempered with brilliant word-play and humor, and all of it comes as Balgochian's rhythm is often that of a racing heartbeat even as the words are shepherded by a meter that is dangerously free." More
Tragically Hip
"If true poetry is wanting to see the world, to see it better, then this is a sparkling work, naked & pure Jane is a fine conjurer of sinewy imagery. Albey's technique is flawless, his expression is deep and soulful...harkens a return to counter-culture days from the '50s and '60s" More
Bassonic Electronic Download
"Bassman Albey 'onBass' lays down a solid goove that gets all up in your body. This is so good, so powerful, the music and the words. Albey truly is the Funk Maestro & Jane Spits fiyah on this 'funky' cd!" More
ANTHOLOGIES
Thank you Moonstone Art Center
"On the Trigger" ©
"straddling that third rail
drinking arsenic cocktails"
Thank you NBPF
"Pain & Pleasure" ©
Thank you NBPF
"Goddess" ©
"in the circle of life
elders whisper to the wind"
Thank you NBPF
"Flux" ©
"For my teacher
who resides on a moon
Thank you NBPF
"If Kool Was A Poem" ©
"That Would
Be Me"
Thank you NBPF
"kisses" ©
"Sweet Kisses...Long Kisses
First Kisses...Soft Kisses"
Thank you NBPF
"We Are One" ©
"the lullaby of Mother Earth
sings her melody
of earthly verse
in ancestral grounds"
Thank you NBPF
"Crash Landing" ©
"in my notebook from the dollar store
lusting for words I search for more
suddenly struck by magic
I am lifted from the tragic"
Thank you NBPF
"Bedtime Story" ©
"Close your eyes my sweet
and if you promise to go to sleep
I will tell you a story of the ancestors
and how we came to be"
Thank you NBPF
"I Am A Poet" ©
"I am ghosting the machine
I will wake you from your dream
I will wake you I will wake you"
Thank you Poets Underground Press
"Stardust & Sage" ©
"Pain & Pleasure" ©
"Word Junkie" ©
Thank you North of Oxford
"Bang Bang" ©
"that dreadful sound
societal meltdown
somebody shot some body down"
Thank you MAC
"Reparations" ©
"where is your sense of justice?
where is your religiousity?
your god will judge you on that do unto others shit"
Thank you Read or Green Books
"Finger on the Trigger" ©
"Isn’t it a shame that?
Black folks are safer when they walk in a pack
avoiding a triggered bullet in the back."
Thank you Read or Green Books
"From Here to There" ©
"From here to there
I am nowhere - I am anywhere"
Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Alternative New Year's Day Extravaganza
Rogue & Bonsai PRess
The NYC Underground Poets
& Artists Anthology
"Cerial Killa Moms" ©
"There's corporate lies in all them pies
little Debbies and rainbow rockets"
Thank you Read or Green Books
Art Edition
Thank You Rhandy.
Rest in Peace my friend
Your are missed.
Retrospective - Whitney Museum
Cecil Taylor called her the Poet.
NYC Jazz Record - Best of 2016
A poet of the street Jane SpokenWord’s performances represent the spoken word as it is meant to be experienced, raw, uncensored and thought provoking.
She believes that Words have Power. Her words speak to humanity, spirituality, soulfulness, ancestors, the yin of crying out against injustice and cruelty, and the yang of assimilating stardust and moonbeams and nature's beauty and the wisdom of the elders.
She yields her pen like a warriors sword to inspire change. From solos, to slams, duo's, trios, and bands, she brings her poetry and spoken word to a diverse set of venues including museums, festivals, libraries, slam lounges, art galleries, clubs, busking street corners and living rooms everywhere.
To preserve the cultural heritage of wording to document life, and foster a broader collective community she combines the elements of spoken word, music, sound and song. "Like those of the Jazz poets, the Beats, The Last Poets, Gil Scott-Heron and others she is usually accompanied by Albey onBass Balgochian's moaning, groaning, rumbling contrabass - adding double the gut-punch to her words." Raoul daGama
Notable performances and collaborations include; The Whitney Museum with Avant-Garde Maestro Cecil Taylor (All About Jazz's Best of 2016) Min Tanaka, Nuyorican Poet Miguel Algarin, Beat Poet John Sinclair, her son HipHop musician/producer DJ Nastee, and her partner in all things Albey onBass.
She has authored two books of poetry with art and accompanying music by co-author Albey onBass Word Against the Machine & Tragically Hip: 'Word Against the Machine' "tackles a broad range of today's societal woes including US politics, racial injustice and rampant consumerism while injecting sincere stanzas of personal insight and social observation. The volume isn't packed with abstract imagery or nuanced niceties, it's more of an in your face alliteration of accurate anger." Raoul daGama 'Tragically Hip' "nothing can prepare you for the poetry within that stings the senses like the hot breath of the poet. A fine conjurer up of sinewy imagery, sculpted from the angst and ennui of the architecture of capitalism her metaphors are dripping with irony" World Music Report
My sincerest gratitude and love to Albey onBass Balgochian, your unwavering support for our work together knows no boundaries. Our journey together goes beyond words, your virtuoso musical ability is underpinned by your wide experience in the music genres you have nutured your soul with.
Your skilled improvisational technique provides a gateway to transcendent dimensions of the creative experience. Your music evokes a spontaneous interaction between improvised bass and spoken word. Dissolving the boundaries that exist between performer and listener you create an experience that shifts as the simple act of observing affects the reality of the moment to create a collective consciousness. It is an honor to work with a musician that has accompanied some of the great artists of our times from Avant-Garde Maestro Cecil Taylor, to Nuyorican Poet Miguel Algarin & Beat Poet John Sinclair, to Rolling Stones Bassist Darryl Jones, to hiphop's Nyck Caution & Joey Bada$$, all the way back to Chuck Berry and Buddy Miles. Your deep emotion for the bass is astounding and I am forever grateful for your support. Peace & love, Jane
- A poet of the street Jane SpokenWord’s performances represent the spoken word as it is meant to be experienced, raw, uncensored and thought provoking.
She believes that Words have Power. Her words speak to humanity, spirituality, soulfulness, ancestors, the yin of crying out against injustice and cruelty, and the yang of assimilating stardust and moonbeams and nature's beauty and the wisdom of the elders.
She yields her pen like a warriors sword to inspire change. From solos, to slams, duo's, trios, and bands, she brings her poetry and spoken word to a diverse set of venues including museums, festivals, libraries, slam lounges, art galleries, clubs, busking street corners and living rooms everywhere.
To preserve the cultural heritage of wording to document life, and foster a broader collective community she combines the elements of spoken word, music, sound and song. "Like those of the Jazz poets, the Beats, The Last Poets, Gil Scott-Heron and others she is usually accompanied by Albey onBass Balgochian's moaning, groaning, rumbling contrabass - adding double the gut-punch to her words." Raoul daGama
Notable performances and collaborations include; The Whitney Museum with Avant-Garde Maestro Cecil Taylor (All About Jazz's Best of 2016) Min Tanaka, Nuyorican Poet Miguel Algarin, Beat Poet John Sinclair, her son HipHop musician/producer DJ Nastee, and her partner in all things Albey onBass. She has authored two books of poetry with art and accompanying music by co-author Albey onBass Word Against the Machine & Tragically Hip: 'Word Against the Machine' "tackles a broad range of today's societal woes including US politics, racial injustice and rampant consumerism while injecting sincere stanzas of personal insight and social observation. The volume isn't packed with abstract imagery or nuanced niceties, it's more of an in your face alliteration of accurate anger." Raoul daGama 'Tragically Hip' "nothing can prepare you for the poetry within that stings the senses like the hot breath of the poet. A fine conjurer up of sinewy imagery, sculpted from the angst and ennui of the architecture of capitalism her metaphors are dripping with irony" World Music Report
My sincerest gratitude and love to Albey onBass Balgochian, your unwavering support for our work together knows no boundaries. Our journey together goes beyond words, your virtuoso musical ability is underpinned by your wide experience in the music genres you have nutured your soul with. Your skilled improvisational technique provides a gateway to transcendent dimensions of the creative experience. Your music evokes a spontaneous interaction between improvised bass and spoken word. Dissolving the boundaries that exist between performer and listener you create an experience that shifts as the simple act of observing affects the reality of the moment to create a collective consciousness. It is an honor to work with a musician that has accompanied some of the great artists of our times from Avant-Garde Maestro Cecil Taylor, to Nuyorican Poet Miguel Algarin & Beat Poet John Sinclair, to Rolling Stones Bassist Darryl Jones, to hiphop's Nyck Caution & Joey Bada$$, all the way back to Chuck Berry and Buddy Miles. Your deep emotion for the bass is astounding and I am forever grateful for your support. Peace & love, Jane
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