Ordinarily, I\u2019d rather be in Tel Aviv on any given day in February, but next week the Bowery Poetry Club & Caf\u00e9 in New York sounds very tempting. Karen Alkalay-Gut \u2013 poet, professor, translator and captivating performer \u2013\u00a0 and jazz pianist Liz Magnes will present \u201cMuse and Music\u201d on Wednesday, February 3 at 18:00. The Israeli duo create a dialogue of spoken word and jazz in a variety of international subjects and tones, and will be joined by American poet Alicia Ostriker.<\/p>\n
Alkalay-Gut was born in London on the last night of the Blitz and grew up in Rochester, New York, moving to Israel in 1972. Poet, author, translator and editor, she teaches poetry at Tel Aviv University, chairs the Israel Association of Writers in English, and is a board member of the Yiddish Writers Association.<\/p>\n
Liz Magnes was born in Cincinnatti, moving to Israel in 1968, where the creative pianist\/composer performs in clubs, concert halls and jazz festivals. Magnes blends American and Middle Eastern jazz for a world music sound that grooves with Alkalay-Gut\u2019s deep jazzy voice.<\/p>\n
Alkalay-Gut\u2019s poetry is unsparing in its honesty, passionate in its involvement with life, funny, intelligent, casual and articulate. The best way to describe her style is with a brief excerpt:<\/p>\n
\u201cBelly Dancing \u2013 Tel Aviv March 2002\u201d
\nby Karen Alkalay-Gut<\/p>\n
Hakim is singing and I am swinging my cane.
\nThe coins around my hips jingle just
\nin the right places and deepen the beat.
\nAnd I ignore for the moment the way
\nThe chains on the Merchava tanks
\ngoing into Kalkilya
\njingle just like me.<\/p>\n
Midnight East recommends \u2013 don\u2019t content yourselves with a brief excerpt \u2013 go out to the Bowery on February 3rd!<\/p>\n