Nikki Birch | December 1, 2023
Djembe. Drums. Piano and bass. A sweeping groove beckoned, welcoming us into the world of surrealist blues poet, Aja Monet. Transformed into a lush garden, the Tiny Desk bloomed with the stanzas, sounds and legacy of jazz poetry.
Monet’s poems cast unflinching eyes towards love, justice, accountability and the joy and healing of daughters and sons of the Black diaspora. At times, her words — gentle gut punches to the soul and psyche — had those in attendance whooping in agreement or silently weeping. These lyrical jokes, jabs and caresses were accentuated by her accompanists, a band made up of Tiny Desk veterans (Nate Smith and Logan Richardson) and jazz legends, including pianist and composer Brian Jackson, a long-time collaborator of renowned jazz poet Gil Scott-Heron.
Like the many jazz poets who came before her, Monet’s poetry is an invitation to question the world around you, to explore the sacred space within, to drown in the depths of your emotions a
1 view
129
30
12 months ago 00:28:13 1
Aja Monet: Tiny Desk Concert
1 year ago 00:13:27 1
Marc Lamont Hill, Noura Erakat and Aja Monet on Black-Palestinian Solidarity
1 year ago 00:04:32 1
Steely Dan ~ Josie ~ Aja (Remastered) HQ Audio
1 year ago 00:05:11 1
Steely Dan ~ Black Cow ~ Aja
1 year ago 00:03:01 3
Łobuzy ft. Topky - Dawaj mi pyska (Oficjalny Teledysk)
1 year ago 00:01:32 7
Keith Carlock makes sweet love to Aja - Steely Dan [2003]
2 years ago 00:29:01 5
JEM fan film
4 years ago 00:04:19 1
SHELTER (Acoustic Version)
6 years ago 00:11:55 69
A love story about the power of art as organizing | Aja Monet and phillip agnew
6 years ago 00:04:22 1
Danay Suarez ft Aja Monet - Tu Serás
8 years ago 00:03:14 10
Johnny Osi - “Food=Love“ (Great Plains 2015)
9 years ago 00:04:26 51
Aja Monet - Weathering (feat. Amari Tims)
9 years ago 00:05:13 61
JEM REACTS - to the new Jem And The Holograms Trailer