The new poetry CD of Lasana M. Sekou, set to music for the first time, will launch at Belair Community Center on November 8, 2008, said Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).
The recording of Sekou reciting his poetry on The Salt Reaper ,Selected poems from the flats, is the latest offering from the St. Martin poet and author of 13 books.
The poetry-music CD includes a range of St. Martin, Caribbean and international topic-poems, as well as adult love poems, said Sample.
"Angelo steps up in a bold way with unique layers of music. He digitally mixes instruments like the steelpan, kalimba, and the violin, and music genres such as European classical, Jazz, club, and Salsa," said Sample.
According to kaiso music expert Fernando Clark, "After 30 years of his unique style of poetry writings and recitals, now comes this collaboration of relentless music â?¦ contemporary â?¦ classical tones amplify the lyrical content of Lasanaâ??s work."
The CD is Rombley’s first exercise as a music producer but he is hardly a stranger to the digital world.
Rombley is better known as an award-winning graphic designer and a highly creative digital artist. He has exhibited at Marigot and New York galleries and designed a number of HNP book covers.
Sekou recorded his poetry for the audio CD in Hong Kong in 2004, while he was a literary Fellow at the Hong Kong Baptist University.
The "selected" poems on the CD are from Sekou’s book ”The Salt Reaper” Poems from the flats (2004, 2005), which earned him unprecedented receives and critical comparisons to acclaimed poets Linton Kwesi Johnson, Dylan Thomas, Aimy Claire, Kamau Brathwaite, and e.e cummings.
Sample sees the CD launch on Saturday, November 8, as "a St. Martin Day weekend affair, with a concert flavor for the island’s people."
"In the unity tradition of St. Martin, House of Nehesi will team up with Shujah Reiph and Conscious Lyrics to organize the CD launch and concert. It will also highlight Lasana’s 30th anniversary as an author and performance poet," said Sample.