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  • An Evening of Poetry, Jazz and “Harp”Beats with Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise, Robert Pinsky, Digba Ogunbiyi Quartet and Gregory Schwartz

    Join us for an evening of an evening of Poetry, Jazz and “Harp”Beats featuring – Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise’s hip-hop poetry with bluesy beats supported by the harp, New Jersey native and former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky’s “PoemJazz” with a reading and performance of poems in concert with a variety of jazz improvisations. Also featured on the evening’s bill are the Digba Ogunbiyi Quartet playing original compositions that are deeply rooted in Ogunbiyi’s Nigeria roots, yet highly informed by his years of studying Jazz; and an opening set by Gregory Schwartz, former recipient of the Poet Laureate of Asbury Park award.

    This event is part of the Monmouth University Summer Music and Arts Festival 2022.


    Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise
    Since the 2018 release of “Higher Grounds,” their first album, Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise have brought their unique blend of hip-hop, soul and classical traditions to various communities. Releasing their highly anticipated second album “Ké m yōōnədé” (2021), Kuf and Christine’s music explores themes of unity, spirituality and the infinite possibility of creating a better world. They fuse hip-hop poetry with bluesy beats supported by the harp. And, you can dance to it. They recently have been featured on NPR Music and WHYY.  Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise offer motivational creative arts workshops and performances at various settings such as hospitals, schools and community centers. Their mission is to use the power of music, personal experience and empathetic relation to help individuals grow to meet their fullest potential.

    Robert Pinsky
    New Jersey native Robert Pinsky (United States Poet Laureate 1997-2000) has devised a collaborative program which showcases his two great passions: poetry and jazz. Pinsky presents the human voice — the reading and performance of poems – in concert with a variety of jazz improvisations. In PoemJazz, Pinsky’s rich and textured voice takes on a role like that of a horn or wind instrument in conversation with melody and rhythm, creating an exchange between the sounds of poetry and of music. “In jazz, as in poetry,” says Robert Pinsky, “there is always that play between what’s regular and what’s wild. That has always appealed to me.”  Robert Pinsky has performed with Grammy-winning pianist Laurance Hobgood and other celebrated jazz musicians, including Vijay Iyer, Ben Allison, Bobby Bradford, and Stan Strickland.

    Digba Ogunbiyi Quartet
    The Digba Ogunbiyi quartet is a musical group that consists of Drummer Chris Paredes, Bassist Bill Moring, Alto saxophonist Jalin Shiver and pianist Digba Ogunbiyi. The quartet which is led by Digba Ogunbiyi started while he was a student at the New Jersey City University. As a pianist from Nigeria, he is obsessed with exploring sounds that are informed by his childhood experiences in Lagos. This is evident in his 2020 debut album “Ade’digba” which has been described as a “sound of hope for the African jazz community. ”With his quartet, Digba stretches the boundaries of genre often playing original compositions that are deeply rooted in his roots yet highly informed by his years of studying Jazz.

    Gregory Schwartz
    Gregory Schwartz, a former recipient of the Poet Laureate of Asbury Park award (2007), has been a resident poet at the MC Skate & Surf Break contest and the 2010 Bamboozle Festival. He has also been featured on the front page of the Asbury Park Press (2002, 2009, 2012), appeared in Steve Forbert’s music video “Sandy” and is a writer for Asbury Park Vibes.

  • The Moody Blues, Days of Future Passed

    It’s just like book club but with albums! With new advances in technology, the way we consume music through our devices, apps and on demand streaming services like Pandora, Spotify and iTunes is making the idea of the “album” as an art form extinct. Get together with other music enthusiasts on Tuesday nights to discuss some of the greatest records of all-time! Listen to the album beforehand and then come prepared to discuss. This event will feature The Moody Blues, Days of Future Passed.

    This event will be held in person at Woods Theatre and will also be available remotely via Zoom. When you register you will be provided the ZOOM meeting link to join the conversation.

    Free and open to the public, but registration is required.

  • The Pretenders, Pretenders

    It’s just like book club but with albums! With new advances in technology, the way we consume music through our devices, apps and on demand streaming services like Pandora, Spotify and iTunes is making the idea of the “album” as an art form extinct. Get together with other music enthusiasts on Tuesday nights to discuss some of the greatest records of all-time! Listen to the album beforehand and then come prepared to discuss. This event will feature The Pretenders, Pretenders.

    When you register you will be provided the ZOOM meeting link to join the conversation. Click here for more information on how to use zoom

    Free and open to the public, but registration is required.

     

  • The Go-Go’s, Beauty and the Beat

    It’s just like book club but with albums! With new advances in technology, the way we consume music through our devices, apps and on demand streaming services like Pandora, Spotify and iTunes is making the idea of the “album” as an art form extinct. Get together with other music enthusiasts on Tuesday nights to discuss some of the greatest records of all-time! Listen to the album beforehand and then come prepared to discuss. This event will feature The Go-Go’s, Beauty and the Beat

    When you register you will be provided the ZOOM meeting link to join the conversation. Click here for more information on how to use zoom

    Free and open to the public, but registration is required.

  • Bruce Springsteen – The Wild, the Innocent, and the E-Street Shuffle

    It’s just like book club but with albums! With new advances in technology, the way we consume music through our devices, apps and on demand streaming services like Pandora, Spotify and iTunes is making the idea of the “album” as an art form extinct. Get together with other music enthusiasts on Tuesday nights to discuss some of the greatest records of all-time! Listen to the album beforehand and then come prepared to discuss. This event will feature Bruce Springsteen’s The Wild, the Innocent, and the E-Street Shuffle.

    When you register you will be provided the ZOOM meeting link to join the conversation. Click here for more information on how to use zoom

    Free and open to the public, but registration is required.

  • Piano Parts Homage to Harold and Collages

    Piano Parts Homage to Harold and Collages is the newest collection of work from Professor Vincent DiMattio. DiMattio has been a professor in the Art & Design department for over 50 years and is retiring this spring. DiMattio received his Master’s in Fine Arts from Southern Illinois University and his Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Massachusetts College of Art. He joined Monmouth’s faculty in 1968, where he served as department chair and as gallery director for more than 20 years. He is credited with starting the gallery program at Monmouth University.

    DiMattio has had his work shown internationally in Spain, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, and in the United States. His work has also been show in the Newark and Trenton Museums. In 1999, selections from DiMattio’s 30-year retrospective exhibit at Monmouth University were used for his first retrospective in New York City at the Susan Berke Gallery.

    In 2004, he co-authored the book, The Drawings and Watercolors of Lewis Mumford with his colleague Professor Kenneth Stunkel, published by the prestigious Edwin Melon Press. In 2005, he received a grant from the Liquitex Paint Company for the completion of over 60 “tube paintings,” which led to a major exhibition at Brookdale Community College. Besides being named distinguished professor in 2013, he was also honored to have an art scholarship established in his name and having the art gallery in Rechnitz Hall named in his honor.

    Artist Reception: May 13 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Click here to register for the reception.

    This exhibition was made possible through a Creative Grant from Monmouth University. 

  • Roger McGuinn

    As a co-founder of The Byrds, Roger McGuinn is firmly established as an indisputable industry icon. From his signature 12-string Rickenbacker sound, to his instantly recognizable vocals on hits like Turn, Turn, Turn, Eight Miles High and Mr. Tambourine Man, Roger McGuinn didn’t just make music; he made history.

    Roger McGuinn was already a veteran of the New York and Los Angeles music scenes when he co-founded the group that would become the Byrds with Gene Clark and David Crosby in 1964. Prior to forming the Byrds, Roger toured and performed with the Limeliters, Chad Mitchell Trio and Bobby Darin as a guitarist and banjo player. He was also the musical director on Judy Collins #3. In 1973, the legendary Byrds disbanded and Roger McGuinn went on to make five solo albums with Columbia Records, and continued to tour.

    In 1995 Roger McGuinn began The Folk Den Project. He records and uploads a traditional Folk song to his website www.Mcguinn.com as an effort to preserve traditional songs. Each month a different song is added to the site accompanied with lyrics and chords for free download.

    Today, Roger McGuinn offers shows that are as mesmerizing and magical as ever. He delivers the gift of an evening with a master that is as intimate as it is spellbinding. He’ll take you along a journey of story and song, populated by the “old friends” you expect to hear, as well as new acquaintances from the folk music that Roger so passionately embraces. This Grammy Award-winning artist tours the world delighting audiences with the songs and stories from his long and continually productive musical career.

  • Open Heart : M O V E M E N T Experience

    Come join us in the Open Heart : M O V E M E N T experience! The session will begin with a guided meditation emerging in a sound bath of relaxation. Flowing into freely guided movement experiences, together we will integrate music and dance to collectively express. No experience necessary.

    Facilitators:

    Christine Elise [Vocal Guide/ Harp/ Singing Bowls]
    Kuf Knotz [Electronic Production / Sound]
    Karlee Bloom [Keyboard / Bass]

    Instrumentation: Harp, Electronic Production, Keyboard, Singing Bowls, Keyboard/Bass, Various Percussion instruments

    Approximate Schedule:
    Arrival
    Welcome (5 minutes)
    Guided Meditation (15 minutes)
    Guided Improvisation Movement Music Experience (60 minutes)
    Cool Down (15 minutes)
    Group Discussion Circle (25 minutes)
    Leave

    Classes held: Sundays September 25 & October 16

     

  • Open Heart : M O V E M E N T Experience

    Come join us in the Open Heart : M O V E M E N T experience! The session will begin with a guided meditation emerging in a sound bath of relaxation. Flowing into freely guided movement experiences, together we will integrate music and dance to collectively express. No experience necessary.

    Facilitators:

    Christine Elise [Vocal Guide/ Harp/ Singing Bowls]
    Kuf Knotz [Electronic Production / Sound]
    Karlee Bloom [Keyboard / Bass]

    Instrumentation: Harp, Electronic Production, Keyboard, Singing Bowls, Keyboard/Bass, Various Percussion instruments

    Approximate Schedule:
    Arrival
    Welcome (5 minutes)
    Guided Meditation (15 minutes)
    Guided Improvisation Movement Music Experience (60 minutes)
    Cool Down (15 minutes)
    Group Discussion Circle (25 minutes)
    Leave

    Classes held: Sundays September 25 & October 16

     

  • Jacob Landau: The Prophetic Quest

    Jacob Landau: The Prophetic Quest, An Exhibit of Selected Drawings and paintings by renowned American artist, humanist, and teacher Jacob Landau.  The selected works on display were completed by the artist in preparation for his stained glass masterpiece, The Prophetic Quest, a series of ten monumental stained glass windows housed in the Keneseth Israel synagogue, just north of Philadelphia. In addition to the artwork, copies of the recently published book; The Prophetic Quest: The Stained Glass Windows of Jacob Landau, will also be on hand for review. Copies of the book are also available for sale at the University Bookstore.

    Designed by the renowned American artist Jacob Landau, The Prophetic Quest encompasses ten masterful abstract pieces of stained glass that depict the lives and words of the biblical prophets, each towering nearly twenty-five feet high and spanning five feet across. Featuring essays recounting Landau’s vision, the history of his project, and detailed interpretative commentary on each window, this book presents an immersive experience of Landau’s religious masterwork. Personal reflections written by artists, art historians, poets, clergy, and congregants about their experience of The Prophetic Quest round out the volume with new ways to view and appreciate Landau’s creation.

    Born in Philadelphia in 1917, Landau launched his career as an illustrator, winning national prizes at age 16, and a scholarship to the Philadelphia College of Art. He went on to have over sixty one-person shows, featuring a wide range of drawings and paintings. The recipient of numerous awards, including Guggenheim and National Arts Council grants, many of his works are featured in permanent collections, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. A master teacher, he retired as professor emeritus at New York’s Pratt Institute. In 1996, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts by Monmouth University.

    The exhibition features a selection of some ten works. All are from Monmouth University’s extensive collection of Jacob Landau’s work, comprising over 300 prints, drawings and paintings. The collection was gifted to Monmouth University in 2008 by the Jacob Landau Institute of Roosevelt, NJ. This exhibit is co-sponsored by the Jewish Culture Studies Program and the Honors School of Monmouth University.