[R. S. Gwynn]

http://www.wcupa.edu/_Academics/sch_...nce_audio3.asp

[Allen Tice]

Tartuffe is even better than the rest of Wilbur's. All the rest of the readings are great too.

[Quincy Lehr]

A fair bit of good stuff, and some standout stuff, but I couldn't help but feel that the poetry/jazz thing is only news to Formalists (and I'll confess to skipping it at the time).

As for the readings themselves, obviously, as with anyone, some readers were more to my taste than others. Sarah Busse struck me (and I hesitate to say this, because she really is very nice) as the very model of Poetry of Quietude. As for Sunil Iyengar... he's a sharp guy and very friendly, but his very presence on that stage was an insult to the rest of us who've actually earned our stripes (or at least slogged in the trenches for a while). A clear case of not what you know, but who you know. Which is a shame, because I suspect that he could develop into a very good poet. He struck me as a fairly competent beginner, frankly, who would be well served by reading at open mics for a few years.

And yes, yes, yes, you're implicitly not supposed to say anything negative on these threads, and I'm sure I'll be accused of jealousy, envy, and all the rest. But really, when one shells out $800, one has the right to criticize weak readers and apparent cases of cliquishness. And Iyengar in particular seemed to be up there due to his connections.

[David Mason]

Quincy,
No comment on your other remarks, but as to the jazz, did anyone say it was "news"? I think not. It was nice, not news. The singer was a joy to watch--a truly lovely smile--and that was enough for me. Not everything needs to be news that stays news. It was music and poetry together--something the conference has sought to supply in various ways since its inception, not always masterfully. The attempt is worthwhile, though.
Cheers,
Dave

[Quincy Lehr]

David--

Fair enough on your "no comment" on the bulk of my remarks. I'm pretty sure I'm right, though. (And a great deal was left unsaid.)

As for the jazz, listening to the files, Sung is a talented musician, and I probably have my own preferences/prejudices where jazz/poetry combos are concerned (bar, preferably fairly dark, wine, etc.).

Quincy

[Tracey Gratch]

Thanks for posting this link!

Tracey

[Philip Quinlan]

The highlights of this for me were:

Jill Essbaum's reading
The Piano playing in the first "jazz" clip

Congrats to whoever for the quality of the recordings (not always done well at these kind of live events).

Philip

[Catherine Chandler]

What an absolute treat! Thanks so much for the link.