There was a little Greek restaurant just south of Oxford east and Adelaide of flat white sign hanging above the stout four-step-set of stairs reads Mykonos in blue letters.
Open Mic poetry night in there Wednesday featured Jan Figurski who tread jazz, blues and radio-friendlies through the laughing air of wine-pouring and food coming or having arrived and hot before the readings began.
Jan’s musical accompaniment consisted of Geoff Johnson of Big Picture, who battered the electric keys with a shootist’s decisiveness and the rhythmical integrity of a skilled carpenter, and I, who intended to keep drum kit rhythm under the current of Jan under siege and telling us, blowing blues through harmonica and the music happening and on.
Time infringed, though, as it does, and with characteristic gentleness, Dawna, our host and the seamstress of these monthly evenings, took the podium and told us so, handing the mic to David Paul, sincere friend of Mr. Figurski, and we were under way.
Jan began with the sensitive poet’s promise of intimacy; he took the audience to a vulnerable place with all the emotional momentum of a man of the blues, giving the audience a frock and his personal truths, an emotion-laden reel of raw images, his the harmonica resonating still, before ruddying his demeanor and loosening his face and ours with good humor and a few final poignant words.
Following hearty applause, Dawna seamed either side of the fifteen minute intermission into the evening and we were into the open mic.
The readers ranged from first time readers to familiar participants, future featured readers and past and the communal act of our sharing was a pleasure to take part in.
With a final seam and some just applause, Big Picture took the stage, the dancing began and a joyful group raised arms in OPA to celebrate the victory of yet another open mic at that little Greek restaurant we know as Mykonos.
Kevin Heslop
Open Mic poetry night in there Wednesday featured Jan Figurski who tread jazz, blues and radio-friendlies through the laughing air of wine-pouring and food coming or having arrived and hot before the readings began.
Jan’s musical accompaniment consisted of Geoff Johnson of Big Picture, who battered the electric keys with a shootist’s decisiveness and the rhythmical integrity of a skilled carpenter, and I, who intended to keep drum kit rhythm under the current of Jan under siege and telling us, blowing blues through harmonica and the music happening and on.
Time infringed, though, as it does, and with characteristic gentleness, Dawna, our host and the seamstress of these monthly evenings, took the podium and told us so, handing the mic to David Paul, sincere friend of Mr. Figurski, and we were under way.
Jan began with the sensitive poet’s promise of intimacy; he took the audience to a vulnerable place with all the emotional momentum of a man of the blues, giving the audience a frock and his personal truths, an emotion-laden reel of raw images, his the harmonica resonating still, before ruddying his demeanor and loosening his face and ours with good humor and a few final poignant words.
Following hearty applause, Dawna seamed either side of the fifteen minute intermission into the evening and we were into the open mic.
The readers ranged from first time readers to familiar participants, future featured readers and past and the communal act of our sharing was a pleasure to take part in.
With a final seam and some just applause, Big Picture took the stage, the dancing began and a joyful group raised arms in OPA to celebrate the victory of yet another open mic at that little Greek restaurant we know as Mykonos.
Kevin Heslop
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