avec Lee
Though the male authors and actors of the Beat Generation, the flag-bearers, are more familiar to us, a number of female writers gravitated to the 'movement' and played an active role. Women with larger than life personalities, with a strong energy, sensitive, caring, tormented, inspired, intelligent and independent characters; greedy for encounters, connections, exchanges. The genesis for this album was the Brenda Knight book 'Women of the Beat Generation', and it has no other pretension than to give a voice, a sound to the words of some of the Women: Anne Waldman, ruth weiss, Janine Pommy Vega and Hettie Jones. Even aside from the texts, the album stands up as a work of sonic beauty. Experimental guitar improviser Jean-Marc Montera is joined by a top trio of like-minded souls - Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Noel Akchoté, and Jean-Francois Pauvros - plus Ernie Brooks (Gods & Monsters, Modern Lovers) on bass. The voice of Sophie Gonthier breathes life into the written words. All recording was single take, no overdubs, a classic improv session. The 52-page booklet has informative English/French notes, photos, and poem texts.