Poetry From a Smart Phone

I have a whole lotta talented friends. One just released a book and another a new CD:

Ngoma's latest release Poems from a Smart Phone is another "spusical" experience, to borrow a term from a fellow poet. Ngoma is a multi talented old school poet who regularly moves audiences with his baritone voice and Yiḏaki (that's Didgeridoo to the unitiated). Every performance is an eclectic mixture of electric violin, singing and conscious spoken word and this CD is no different. Sometimes the music plays the major part of the track and sometimes it's only Ngoma speaking with himself as backup. There is something here for everyone.

As with most CD's I get there are tracks that I enjoy the most and in my opinion the best tracks are Conversations with a Bumblebee on Earth Day, Jesus Wept, Ghosts of Harlem and Tip To The Pretty Young Waitress Behind the Bar.

Bumblebee starts us off with the Yidaki which sets our mind in a proper state as Ngoma weaves a discussion of religion with the defilement of earth by those who proclaim to love God and His creation. This is followed by Jesus Wept, where Ngoma brings us a Negro Spriitual that hangs a haunting background to another critique of religious people who have a problem following their own beliefs. If you like this track you should try to run into Ngoma or contact him for his track "They Are Falling All Around Me", from his CD “Ngoma's Take Out”. Worth it. Trust me. And if that tickles you, you go get “Reflections” and download "On The Day the Pope Died". If that sounds controversial well, it is and it's
how Ngoma rolls and I like it. And besides, how many poets you know that can do three part harmony behind their own material?

Ghosts of Harlem is easily my favorite of favorites because I'm partial to just about any track with piano in it. Even more partial when I hear Jazz chords. Ngoma did this on Garageband and it's a nice piece. The poem's good too. HA! Really though, Ngoma discusses the numerous changes that Harlem is undergoing while he verbally walks around the neighborhood in his memory.

The last track on my favorite list, Tip, would probably irk some people, Ngoma dishes out some sage advice to a hypothetical young lady at a bar on how to protect herself from those men who would violate her. It's unpopular in some circles to even suggest that kind of talk, but Ngoma doesn't victim blame just handing out advice born of experience. Musically it's a complete difference from Ghosts but that underscores the wide taste in music that Ngoma has.

These are my favorites but there is something here for everyone who's into spoken word.