Jack Kerouac
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Acknowledgements- David Amram and Frank Messina would like to thank: JACK KEROUAC Geoff Benge, Janna Benge, Kimberly Buchheit, Jeff Cole, THE FLORIDA - NEW YORK CONNECTION Bruce Gordy, Michael Hawley, Rachel Kapitan, Bob Kealing, Annette King, Steven McCall, Paul Ramos, Michael S. Robinson, Summer Rodman, generous donors, past residents, applicants, friends of the project and numerous volunteers over the years, and The Audience for showing up and supporting the Kerouac Project! Special thanks to Joyce Johnson, Michael Shannon, John Ventimiglia and Monica Wendel for their valuable time, talent and support for this evening, and the musicians: Rene Hart, Elliott Pepper, Kevin Twigg, Robbie Winterhawk and special guest singers Morley and Michelle Zangara. Thank you to Robin Hirsch and the entire staff of the Cornelia Street Café! Videography by Joe Nardelli and Mark Ferrando David Amram, 1957 at the Five Spot, New York A Celebration of the Jack at the house Fred DeWitt, for Time magazine, 1958 Jack Kerouac Writers-in-Residence Project with legendary composer & early Kerouac collaborator The Kerouac Project P.O. Box 547477 DAVID AMRAM Orlando, FL 32854-7477 (Rene Hart, bass; Elliott Pepper, percussion; Kevin Twigg, drums) www.kerouacproject.org Reading Kerouac: Note: David Amram and Frank Messina are proud to serve on the Board of Frank Messina, Michael Shannon, John Ventimiglia Artistic Advisors for The Jack Kerouac Writers-in-Residence Project, a Special Guest Speakers: registered 501(c)(3) non-profit group and official Orlando Historic Landmark. Joyce Johnson, Summer Rodman, Monica Wendel SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2013, 8:30PM Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street, New York, NY 10014 PROGRAM Subject to Spontaneity I want to speak for things. For the crucifix I speak out, for the Star of Israel I speak out, for the divinest man who ever lived, who was a German (Bach), I speak out. For sweet Mohammed I speak out. for Buddha I speak out, for Lao- tse and Chuang-tse I speak out, for D. T. Suzuki I speak out...why should I attack what I love out of life? This is Beat. Live your lives out? Naw, LOVE YOUR LIVES OUT. —JACK KEROUAC Take the A Train (Billy Strayhorn) The Billy Strayhorn Classic, which served as Duke Ellington's theme song, celebrating the subway ride from Downtown Greenwich Village to Uptown Harlem and Columbia University and Selections from Kerouac’s 1951 Journal and Joyce vice-versa. Johnson’s Minor Characters: A Beat Memoir read by Joyce Johnson Waltz from Arthur Miller’s “After the Fall” (David Amram) From Amram's score for the original production of the play by Arthur Miller, created On the Road: “An Evening with Slim Gaillard” and “So, in for the opening of the Lincoln Center Theatre in 1964. Miller and Kerouac had America…” read by John Ventimiglia mutual respect for one another, and Kerouac always asked Amram to play this piece for him when Jack visited New York City. Love Letters Joyce Johnson and John Ventimiglia read corresponding Mastinchele Wachipi Olowan (Rabbit Dance Song) letters between Kerouac and Johnson from Johnson’s book, The Door Wide Open: A Beat Love Affair in Letters, 1957-1958. This traditional Native American social song is a lady’s choice round dance performed to welcome everyone into the circle. Jack Kerouac was interested in Lover Man (Jimmy Davis, Roger "Ram” Ramirez, James Sherman) this music as a way of rediscovering his lost Canadian-Native roots for which there was no official documentation but to which he felt spiritually connected. Summertime (George Gershwin) Vocalist Michelle Zangara joins the David Amram Quartet on stage to sing two of Jack’s favorite songs. The Kerouac Project: History and Impact Kerouac Project co- founder and treasurer Summer Rodman discusses the history of the house On the Road: “American Bop Night” Michael Shannon reads and how it evolved into a writer’s residency and a national historic landmark. Kerouac’s brilliant highlights of the history of jazz. Kerouac’s Legacy: Monica Wendel, poet and recent resident of the On the Road: “Denver at Last” and Letter to Marlon Brando Kerouac Project shares thoughts on her time as a resident of the Kerouac Frank Messina reads from On the Road, and Kerouac’s letter to Brando, in house and how it has impacted her life as a writer. which Kerouac asks Brando to recreate his novel into a movie. Theme from “Splendor in The Grass” (David Amram) From Pull My Daisy Lyrics by Jack Kerouac, Neal Cassady, Allen Ginsberg. Amram's score for Elia Kazan's 1960 feature film starring Warren Beatty and Music, scat rap by David Amram. Title song from the Kerouac-narrated 1959 Natalie Wood. This was one of Jack's favorite Amram scores since he had Beat documentary film, for which Amram composed score and appeared as crashed out at Amram’s place on Sixth Ave when he wrote it. Kerouac later Mezz McGillicuddy The deranged French Hornist. Jack improvised the whole took actor Paul Gleason to see the film in Florida, just to hear the music, which narration as Amram played. The film was shot in the East Village. Special is described by Bob Kealing, co-founder of the Kerouac Project, in his guest vocalist Morely joins the David Amram Quartet for this classic song. biography, Kerouac in Florida: Where the Road Ends. .