The best writing by chicanos
has always been poetry, and chicanas have always proven the best
poets despite the prominence of some men. There is some proof
of both assertions in start-up publisher Calaca Press's spoken
word compact disc featuring chicana and chicano poetry. After
attending their launch party at Espresso Mi Cultura Bookstore
in Hollywood last week, I've been listening to my copy, wishing
I could read it.
As a recording, the cd's
audio channels give clean and understandable signals 16 of 17
performances. Performers provide a full range of speech from
whisper to chant to shout to narrative. This is PA quality sound,
a truly professional recording job with the exception of the
last track's thundering break ups. Packaging is a problem; the
soundtrack sorely needs a print component. Perhaps volume 2 will
afford this luxury. Complex word play, surprise, line length,
bilingualism, experiences that delight on the page are left solely
to the aural resources of the reader. Where you'd do a double
take, where you'd savor a line, reread, start, finish -- all
the pleasures of the page -- the cd plays on.
Here are sixteen first rate
performances. Much of the cd demonstrates a debt to the 1970s'
Last Poets, with the performers echoing the phrasing and articulation
of that recording group. The rap voice's presence doesn't intrude;
in fact, Chuy Quintero's "Holidays of el barrio" offers
an arresting course in articulation and diction. Chuy pronounces
"barrio" different ways, each creating a momentary
tension for the sound alone. Is this creativity, or do all rappers
twist their syllables? I hope your SCMAers [Newsgroup: soc.culture.mexican.american]
who know contemporary stuff will listen to "Raza Spoken
Here" and put some perspective on this voice.
Poetas Chingonas. These
poets are muy chingonas, the men too, but Olga Angelina Garcia
Echeverria and Sandra Munoz stand apart leaving the listener
wanting more. Olga's bitterly ironic wit shines in "Blood
Ain't Salsa" which she performs with The Rasquachi Performers.
Her not-yet published disquisitions leave me frustrated she left
them off the cd. Sandra's "Metal Woman" should be required
reading in a course of unitedstatesian humor. Fortunately, "Metal
Woman" is among the few pieces that could be included as
required reading in a high school English class, or anthologized
in some future collection of the best writing of the late 20th
century, if prudish trends persist, or if "fuck" remains
a taboo word. Conventional chicano protest themes and images
fill track after track. The two vato/pachuco poems by Manuel
J. Velez echo Aquellos Vatos and El Louie, with touches from
Trip Through the Mindjail. Chicanismo at the end of the 1900s
is alive and well.
People seek out poetry for
their own reasons. CalacaPress' _Raza spoken here, poesia chicana
volume 1_ will fit almost everyone's reason. including these
three:
This is a unique contribution.
This is puro chicano, high
quality art that you'll want to share it with others.
You need to help Sandra
free Metal Woman from the back of some asshole's Camaro.
