Poetry & Song Close Month of Jazz at TORCH

Seniz Yargici Lennes opened the last Sunday in the Month of Jazz at TORCH

The Jazz Residency of Sean Roderick came to a close Sunday night at TORCH with two very talented ladies performing a perfect note for a cold, rainy Minneapolis evening. There was a set of mid-Twentieth Century Jazz vocalizations by Seniz Yargici Lennes and a set of poetry with jazz by Leslie Sedivy, poetess extraordinaire at Le Cirque Rouge Cabaret and Burlesque Show as Lulu Blue. There was no lack of comfort and no want of a beautiful diversion.

Seniz made her vocal debut to a full house performing her “Jazz Singer Lady.” Seniz is a seasoned performer here in Minneapolis, mostly as an actress and comedienne specializing in improvisation.

She serenaded us with the likes of Gershwin’s Someone to Watch Over Me, and old favorites like How High the Moon and Cry Me A River. Dotted through the set were some improvised songs that called to the audience for words and inspiration. That treated us to a song about a minivan and how boring it was to drive. Nicely done, Sinez! Nicely done.

You remember the beat poets, right? Jack Kerouac, maybe a muted coronet or a brushed snare drum? My first introduction to the beatnik was Maynard G. Crebs. Remember him from The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis … no? Bob Denver pre-Gilligan? How about a more contemporary example; an only slightly popular Mike Myers movie, So I Married an Axe Murderer … no? Steve Bushemi in Hudsucker Proxy? Never mind.

In those cases the poet was more of a cartoon and the poetry so damn-the-electric-fence over the top you couldn’t imagine how to cut through all the pretensions let alone see the form ever be taken seriously.

However, Ms. Sedivy and Mr. Roderick completely ripped it up! They so expertly wove a fabric of jazz and verse together that one could only park a collective jaw on the floor and listen with a smile on your face.

Sedivy’s verse was poignant, witty, clever … sans cliché and delivered with a meter that perfectly embraced Roderick’s unassuming accompaniment. It was warm and personal, engaging and truthful. You’ve got to see Leslie perform her poetry at your earliest convenience. Until then, make sure you listen to her offerings at Sound Cloud and keep chanting, "gotta see her live, gotta see her live."

As far as I’m concerned, she’s single-handedly keeping the English language alive.

Leslie Sedivy takes a bow at the end her set at TORCH.

My hat's off to Sean Roderick. He put together a full month of excellent music and entertainment at TORCH in his curatory debut. Brava! We'll be back.