Dorothea Grossman and Michael Vlatkovich present poetry and creative new music in a unique “call and response” format. The late Allen Ginsberg called Dorothea (Dottie) Grossman’s poetry, “clear, odd, personal, funny or wild-weird, curious and lucid.” The award-winning poet lives, works and writes in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Blue Unicorn, Southern Poetry Review, The Christian Science Monitor, Gypsy Anthology, Poetry Motel, Zuzu,s Petal Quarterly, The Poet,s Band Company, Raw Dog Press, Pearl, The California Quarterly of the California State Poetry Society, The IMP Irregular, ArtLife and Rhino. Her book, “Cuttings: Selected Poetry 1978 -1988″ was published by Tango Press in 1996. “Poems From Cave 17” was published in 1996, and “Museum of Rain” was published by Take Out Publications in 2001.
Michael Vlatkovich, trombonist, composer and arranger, maintains dual citizenship in Los Angeles, CA and Portland, OR, and also tours extensively in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In addition to leading his own creative ensembles, Vlatkovich has performed and recorded with a variety of singers and instrumentalists, including Peggy Lee, Brian Setzer, ROVA Saxophone Quartet, Bryan Adams, Bobby Bradford, Gerry Hemingway, and Rob Blakeslee.
The magazine, “JAZZIZ” has called Vlatkovich, “…one of the most extraordinary improvising trombonists in this country as well as overseas. Also a gifted composer and arranger, Vlatkovich is one of the leading talents among Los Angeles improvisational players. Working from the Left Coast since 1973, he is well known for tireless touring, bringing his music all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. A daring and emotionally charged performer, Vlatkovich takes delight in blending a broad variety of jazz and world music styles into his own brand of engaging and unpredictable music. His approach manages to express a raw power and beauty within a minimally structured format that allows extensive group improvisations to lead the way.”
The “call and response” format in which Ms. Grossman and Vlatkovich perform was born about two years ago in Albuquerque, NM, when both were guests on a jazz radio program. This format solves the problem of one medium overshadowing the other, plus, says Grossman, ” it avoids the old jazz and poetry, trap, with its cliché-ridden stereotype of angry, beret-wearing, bongo-playing bohemians.”
Recent appearances have included The Potter Valley Penofin Jazz Festival, Ukiah, CA; KUNM Radio,s “House That Jazz Built,Albuquerque, NM; PTS Group, Redondo Beach, CA; ArtLife Poetry Series, Ventura, CA; Open Gate Theatre, Eagle Rock, CA ; Salvation Theatre, Los Angeles; Club Tropicale, Culver City, CA; Godot,s Ear, Studio City, CA, Meridian Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
Dorothea Grossman and trombonist Michael Vlatkovich perform in call and response format featuring Dorotheas poems, Louisianans, 3 Henny Youngman poems and No Heirs.
Dorothea Grossman and Michael Vlatkovich perform call and response poetry and music. They also give insight into their work.