The East Side Freedom Library invites you to “Judah, Buddha, Jazz & the Living Sky:” A Performance of Spoken Word and Jazz by a 21st Century Duo, Louis Alemayehu and Lewis Hill II on Saturday, December 9, 7:30PM-9:00PM​, @ East Side Freedom Library.

Louis Alemayehu is a writer, educator, activist, poet and mentor of younger artists and activists. His writing has appeared in national and international publications.  Alemayehu is a founding member of the seminal, award winning poetry/jazz ensemble, Ancestor Energy, strongly influenced by Chicago’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians.   In 2009 the Minnesota Spoken Word Association gave Alemayehu an Urban Griot award for 30 years of excellence as a pioneering spoken word artist. He sings chants, recites embodying his text. His performance work draws richly diverse audiences in terms of age, race, class, gender, nationality and education. He strives to promote healing through performance work.  Over the years his collaborators have included master musicians, artist and composers like Carei Thomas, David Wright III, Donald Washington, Gary Schulte, Mick LaBriola, Davu Seru, Mankwe Ndosi, Josè F. James, Maria Isa, Anthony Cox, Dean McGraw and Douglas Ewart. Louis is a graduate of Concordia College, Moorhead Minnesota. (image above found via http://www.intermediaarts.org/Louis-Alemayehu1)

Lewis Hill II is a Musician and Computer Engineer living in the Twin Cities. Lew is presently having the time of his life performing with Alma Andina, The Poetic Diaspora, Soul Beautiful, and Teatro Del Pueblo. An Alum of Iowa State University, Hill’s dissertation “Synesthetic Music Experience Communicator” presented an interactive virtual world of musical imagery and interactive sounds. Lew thanks his family, friends, and mentors for their guidance and inspiration – with Word, Sound, and Power!

*There is a suggested donation of $10.

East Side Freedom Library, 1105 Greenbrier Street, Saint Paul, MN 55106. [email protected]   and   651-230-3294