Who and what influences me, are the actions of people that care about the well being of others and do something about it on a soulful level, not determined by dollars, donations and fancy talk. Anybody can say something clever and catchy, but not everyone can move a soul. People who bring hope to the hopeless are my heroes. What is said with their music and without, the actions of people like Donald Byrd, jazz trumpet player, Red Garland, piano-player, Ray Brown, bass, William "Smiley" Winters, drummer and Roland Kirk "walking with the spirits". The power and inspirational words of Kamau Da'ood, Gil-Scott Heron, Sekou Sundiata, Milton Nascimento, Nina Simone.
My non-musical influences are people like:
Nelson Mandela, a man of conviction, perseverance, vision and principle. When he talks about being accountable, that is important. The world can learn something from that! His level of perseverance was very important. Especially, as a visionary. With it, he was able to sustain a vision of the great things to come. I could only imagine, that the goal would have been too hard to attain, if he didn't have hope and a clear vision of the commitment required from the beginning to the end. I believe that Nelson Mandela most definately displayed these qualities in character.
Pema Chodron, a Buddhist nun, is someone who has taught me so much, with statements like: "This very moment is the perfect teacher" or "relax as it is".
The Dali Lama when he says, "Breath in for peace in you and breath out to send peace to others" (or something to that effect) How hard can that be to do? He walks his talk in faith.
Sounds Like
Red Garland, Donald Byrd, Gil Scott-Heron and my favorite poet and inspiration, Kamau Da'aood.
It would probably be a good idea to read the interview by Marc Kets, I did with www.basic-soul.co.uk under the features section, select N-Side, from the right side of the screen.
It will tell you much more about what I sound like in a literally sense, based on what I say
about me. Musically, it will tell you about the influential impact, artist I love to listen to have had on me. I felt very comfortable when what I was able to share.
The tribe (that's who we are!) If not now, when? To know (that's just where it starts) A journey from the N-Side: Movie trailer
Every once in a while an artist comes along with a message
so deep and profound that it touches you not only on a melodic
level, but in a way that makes you reassess what your priorities
are. In an age where so many artists sacrifice their message in
favour of financial gain, we need someone to stand up and speak
from the heart and that artist is the jazz-poet N-Side. As he so
succinctly puts it, "We need more talking with and less talking at."
quote from an interview by
Marc Kets, www.Basic-Soul.co.uk
Who is this N-Side? I never heard of him? Where did he come from?
He is Norman Woods aka N-Side. N-Side is a performing jazz/poet,
screenwriter and music publisher from the S.F. Bay area. A native
of Berkeley, California, he has always had an aspiration to be an artist
of some description and has always supported the arts in some way
emotionally, financially and resourcefully.
Some say he has seen it all. From Jimi Hendrix plays Berkeley to
the Silicon Valley explosion. In his own word he would say," seen a
lot, heard a lot, done a lot, had fun a lot and everything in between!
You can believe that! From Vietnam anti-war protest to rainy days of
homelessness, trust him when he says he has a story to tell and has
always found a way to smile through "Hard Times on Planet Earth"
one of his early recorded, but never released or promoted CD recordings
on Shalamar Records.
When asked why?
N-Side says with a smile, listen to the track "The tribe"
where he says: "do you think we can do this?" Well, the answer is yes.
And you can hear this on his latest CD: Three voices from the
N-Side, where he delivers a more diversified poetry and jazz sound.
His poetic style is supported by (3) different types of jazz style, from 3 different CD's. LIVE,(from the CD: LIVE @ the Vallejo Jazz Festival, with his group "the tribe")
Outside jazz (from his tribute to William "Smiley" Winter CD: JAZZ OPERA feat. William "Smiley" Winters(drums), Barbara Donald(trumpet) and Sonny Simmons(sax). And from his CD: A softer View from the N-Side) with what he calls that mellow, smooth classic stuff.
So welcome to the N-Side
They Lied To Me When They Said “Time Will Heal Every Wound!” Tht Another Lovers’ Touch Could Ever Replace The Passion Tht Your Lips Consumed. Tht Your Kiss… No Matter Hw Sweet… No Matter Hw Perfect Our Embrace... Would One Day Be Swallowed Up By The Masses Until I No Longer Recognize Your Face. They Said “Many Day Will Become Nights & Many Nights Will Become Weeks…” Tht For A Season It Will Feel Like Torture Between The Moments Tht We Speak! But After Weeks Become Months & Months Become Years, One Morning Tht 1st Impulse To Call Out Your Name Would Simply Disappear! One Evening Tht FAITHFUL Moon That, Once, Guided My Heart To Yours, Would, Instead, Lead My Midnight Flight To The Edge Of Obsidian Shores. They Said “Look Around You? What Do You See… Beyond The Summer Bloom Of The Mimosa? Those Same People Who SPAT On Christ As HE Stumbled Down The True Via Dolorosa!?” The Same People Who Claimed To Be Children Of Light But Cast Shadows Over Your Moments Of Lose!?” They Said “Not Every Man Is Meant To Embrace True Love - So Brotha’ Lay Down Your Heavy Cross!” ...Tht My Sacrifice Would Be In Vain, Because No Matter Hw Hard We Tried, No One Will Ever Know Hw Much I Love You... But THOSE Mutha*****’s Lied! How Could I Rip Out This Crown Of Thorns, Tht SO Deeply Pierces My Heart? Knowing Tht Heaven & Earth Are Bound By The Promise Of Our Souls NEVER Being TRULY Apart!? -LiquidPoetry2009 Read Complete "TRUTH & LIES" On My Blog
Many Blessings Brothers & Sisters/Old Friends & New! I Know It's Been A Long Time Since Any Of You Have Heard From Me, But Your Thoughts, Emails & Texts Did Not Go Unappreciated! Your Prayers Really Made A Difference! May The Lord Of Mercy Continue To Bless You All! Peaceful Journeys LP
Just been watching the "1st Annual Martin jazz festival"....O.M.G...." N-Side and the tribe"...blew me away!!! and then some!!! WONDERFUL POETRY...WONDERFUL MUSIC !!!!!
Thanks for adding MzDee of DeeLicious Ent to your circle of friends I hope you will be able to join me as DeeLicious Ent. Presents Deep N Da Sheets Open Mic on Tuesday nites beginning Oct. 2, 2008 @ 7 pm GREGORYS’ Lounge 10753 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 Contact: deelicious318@gmail.com Dress code in effect
Man that's what I'm talking about! Your on fire when your with the tribe! our poetry has always been A+ but the the dilevery of this piece is over the top! That's how I want you to do our next CD Cat! Yea I know you got about 50 CD's in the vault but if 2 Pac can put out that sh-t after he past maybe our kids can do the same for us...scratch that, we got about another 50 years on this earth space ship before we check out. LOL Love ya Cat.
Promote Man, Promote! LOL I know just kidding get some rest. This is what I'm posting:
Happy Holidays from Ricardo Love and N-Side: Master Poet N-Side with Music by: Ricardo Love- This Cat is my hero, he takes an art form that is under exposed and under appreciated and puts it in the main stream market on radio and now video shows. When he told me he wanted to do a music video for the CD he put out (I Produced all the songs except one) I thought yea right you'll really make that happen...but he did! He continues to push poetry to the next level of where it must go to not die on the vine in coffee house pulpits. Poets out there I love your art form! That is why I have Produced over 10 poetry CD's for different Artist knowing that I would not get a financial return for my many hours of production, playing at shows and promotions. I and you (fellow Poets) need to not put limits and the art form and push it in to the main stream...not to sell out and become a weak mass appeal watered down art form but to bring the deep messages that only a small amount of heads that come to poetry shows hear. Check out this video (one of a few Brother N-Side is putting out in addition to his on going radio push and say to yourself "yea if weak as Rappers can put a message out dummying down the masses then surely I can put out one to up lift the masses or even make them think a little beyond the spoon fed ear candy". Big up to N-Side and a few other Poets I work with for taking it to the next level of shouting it from the mountain top!
N-Side "A Hero I Know"...Man thanks for making the dream a reality! Way to set the bar higher, you are more than a Word Smith your a Executive Genius! This makes up for other artist I Produce that just set on projects...what a great holiday gift.
