Gha’il Rhodes Benjamin (self-empowerment speaker/award winning actor, poet / spoken word -recording artist) via her own production company Talking Poems and Storytelling Productions Gha’il performs her one-woman show with live musical accompaniment throughout the tri-state area and the country bringing to light the inner complexities of every day characters with raw simplicity and humor. From classrooms to college campuses, nightlife venues to Lincoln Center, The Schomberg, The Knitting Factory, Aaron Davis Hall and Symphony Space of New York she motivates, uplifts and inspires audiences with words and phrases that stick to your ribs. Talking Poems specializes in creating personalized custom-made poetry for every occasion, including weddings, anniversaries and memorial heirlooms for home-going celebrations. As director and facilitator of various creative workshops and performances, she encourages participants of all ages to “project their inner voices”. Gha’il is both the visual image and voice of spoken word in collaboration with filmmaker Al Santana titled Reparation Blues, (PBS, WLIW). Her voice resonates through radio airwaves with her poem titled She got burned, a PSA promoting domestic violence awareness through Safe Horizons of New York. Her debut CD Spiritual Eclipse/ Sacred Moments on a String of Words is a collage of music and spoken-word, a portrait of self-discovery, self-love and renewal. Gha’il is the recipient of the 2010 Soul Purpose Award, The Ties That Bind Award, The Spirit Award, The Diamond Homer Award and an Audelco Award. She is currently on the public speaking circuit, raising her voice to ignite “self-empowerment and creativity”.
“She’s authentic, talented, mesmerizing and a breath of fresh air”
--- Les Brown author and speaker.
www.ghailrhodesbenjamin.com
February 11,2012
For Spoken Word Section
TEANECK “Open Mic Poetry Café.” First 10 people to sign up at 6:30 p.m to read their original poems (under 5 min.) get in free. Hosted by award-winning poet and teacher Gh’ail Rhodes Benjamin with guest poets Toney Jackson and Chelsea-Ann Jones. February 11 at 7:00 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Puffin Cultural Forum, 20 Puffin Way. (201)836-3499. PuffinCulturalForum.org.
In the name of the great masters of the word, Gha'il Rhodes Benjamin is here to tell you you better move when the spirit say move.Music and poetry are not separate things: they are the left and right ventricle, they are the fingers of the same hand. Gha'il respects this as universal law. Matter of fact, music and poetry and dance and life and laughter and love are all one.
Maybe that's what keeps her so humble, and she is incredibly humble, given the power of her words, the strength of her voice. Maybe its the love in her message, you can tell she loves our children, she loves her sisters and when you listen toBrotherman you know she has much love for the brothers too!
This is a CD you can listen to when you want to listen to a CD, you don't have to do anything special, but you may want to do something special. You may want to laugh, you may want to grab your partner and tell them you love-no-really love them.There will likely be moments when you want to shed a tear. And there will definetly be times when you feel the spirit.
And child, when the spirit say move- you better move.
--Brian Jackson, composer
Gha'il Rhodes Benjamin passionately delivers exquisite interpretations of word and song: she lifts, inspires and connects the hearts and souls of those in her poetic presence.
-- Gregg Payne, pianist, composer
Check out Gha'il's Debut CD. A collage of spoken word/poetry vocals.
A neo-soul musical vibe, Served on a hot, simmering plate of Saturday night,
Sunday morning and every single day in between! Uplifting and inspiring.
Don't be shy, help yourself to this smorgasbord of soulful, senuous, soothing rhythm. Each track (16 in all) Laced with Gha'il's powerfully, provocative lyrics.
Charged with survival, dignity and humor. Once you hear this CD
You'll want to hear it again and again.
Four world renowned musicians,
Spike Rebel (Carnell Newbill)(Urbangold.com)/ keyboards, acoustic guitar
Calvin Jones/bass
Jeff Haynes/percussion
Greg Payne (illuminationchorale.com)/keyboards
Capture this CD's essence of warmth, depth and soul, Framing each track with outstanding musical integrity. Until you hear Gha'il's voice slamming down lyrics Like there is no tomorrow, Celebrating life, love and freedom... You haven't heard nothing! Come feel the vibe, Taste the vibe... And spread the vibe of Spiritual Eclipse/Sacred Moments on a String of Words.
TO PURCHASE THIS CD:
Visit CDBABY.COM on line
Available online atTowerrecords.com
BROOKLYN:
• 4W Circle of Art and Enterprise
704 Fulton St., Brooklyn, NY 11238
(718) 875-1039
• Designer Braids
922 Fulton St. (St James and Washington Ave.)
Brooklyn, NY 11238
(718) 783-2964
• Stuck on Praise Gospel Store
901 Myrtle Ave. (Thompkins & Marcy)
Brooklyn, NY 11206
(718) 963-2155
• Tribal Truths
117 S. Oxford
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 643-8322
• Big Deal Books
973 Fulton St.
(718) 622 4420
NEW YORK CITY:
• Record Shack
274 W. 125th St.
New York, NY 10027
(212) 866-1600
• The Brownstone
2032 5th Ave. (125th & 126th)
New York, NY 10035
(212) 996-7980
• Unity Church of New York
Bookstore
(Sundays only 10-12:30 p.m.)
230 W. 29th St. (7th & 8th Ave.)
New York, NY
PHILADELPHIA:
• Amazulu
737A Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 923-8540
Talking Poems and Storytelling Productions has a story just for you! All the way from that naughty little spider named Anansi to Aunt Fannie Mae Lulu... The mythical power of storytelling is what kept events that would have been forgotten alive.....from ear to ear, and from one generation to the next, a good juicy story, (just like good gossip), can never be forgotten. Good stories can be entertaining for the whole family, not just the little ones. So.......the next time you're having a special event to celebrate a birthday, family reunion, anniversary, rights of passage,baby shower,adoption, bridal shower, bon voyage, retirement, graduation, welcome home party or WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO CELEBRATE:
"A very good story is waiting for your ears!!" Talking Poems and
Storytelling Productions offers creative workshops and storytelling for your school or worksite! These workshops and more (depending on your specific needs) are available for your organization or special event.
• Poetry Writing
• Theatre/Drama
• Voice
• Movement
• Poetry Performance/Slams
• Storytelling (writing and/or performance
• Musical Theatre
We'll be happy to create a workshop just for your groups' benefit and empowerment....
"Dear Gha'il, thank you so much for coming to our school and sharing your poetry with us. We really enjoyed the poetry slam....We learned so much from you, please come again soon!"
.....4th graders /
Brooklyn Friends School
GHA'IL
Gha'il you put the F in fire
the H in higher
the W in will
and the T in thrill
Gha'il you are that woman
that pushes me up that hill
to make ME
stand on top and shine down on others.
You are my clown when I am mad
You are my preacher...you are my dad
I love the way you move
I love the things you do
I love you from your hair follicles to your toes
I admire your pride and confidence
you inspire me
that's why when I get older
and have my millions of dollars.....
Gha'il Rhodes Benjamin
I'll give you a holla
© Jazmine in Poughkeepsie, NY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This was an assignment that I gave to students:
1) Choose a quote or saying that speaks to you
2) Create a poem describing your interpretation of the quote.
Quote:
" i went into the woods because i wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discovered that I had not lived."
-----By Henry David Thoreau
Poem:
Seeing ourselves lacking purpose or meaning
yet walking on earth silently dreaming
forces our eyes to illusions so strong
fixes our solutions changing our wrongs
naive before being prudent
the time came before we knew it
when bodies soared into ash
found that life will never last
though realizing what we may
our ambitions will never stay
By Austin B...summer youth camp participant
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's an example of one customer who was celebrating her 40 birthday along with her husband. Paula didn't want this special landmark birthday to be forgotten. See an excerpt (below) from a custom made poem titled:
I STILL KEEP LOVING YOU
(for Paula and Jimmy on their 40th)
......"So come party with me
I got your Absolut and cranberry
got your steak in the oven
lobster tails and butter sauce
come on, lets do this baby
you're the top dog boss
It's 40, we're 40
Its all good, it's all night
a man's got to do what a man's got to do
that's how you say it right?
let's keep dancing, let's keep breathing
keep living and praying and dreaming....
Jimmy you light up my life
you light up my soul
you're my best friend, husband, lover
together let's grow old....."
© 2001 Gha'il Rhodes Benjamin
WHEN A POEM COME DOWN
I don't know where
My poems
Come from......
But when somethin' say "move"
I move
I pick up my pencil
And I sit
While energy infuses me...
Hypnotized I write
Big caramel colored fingers slidin' cross da' pages
Fragmented thoughts on rhythm come
Pourin' down
Like love....through my crown
I sit hypnotized....
Pieces of poetry float through my dreams
(still readable even after the spin cycle)
Inside my jeans
I even seen a poem
Dancin' on a hamhock in my collard greens
To a James Brown tune
Talkin' about "I got the feelin',
Good God I got the feelin'"
I heard a poem
Whisper in my ear
Slid in on a teardrop that landed there
When I was feelin'........the blues
I seen a poem on a chubby girl's stomach
While she was jumpin' double dutch/double time/double dare
I seen a poem in your eye
And when somethin' say "move"... I couldn't....
Cause...you...started turnin' into a big ol' poem
A funky masculine hunk of vanilla/chocolate
Heart beat stoppin'/lip smackin'
Poetry....ain't just a notion
Baby you is
My
Favorite
Poem
Performances
Ms. Benjamin's one-woman-show integrates her lyrics with live music, song and dance in an explosive collage of characters that reveal themselves with raw simplicity. She has graced the stages of nightclubs, theatres and cafes, including:
•The Knitting Factory
•Nuyorican Poet's Cafe
•SOB's
•Sista's Place
•Aaron Davis Hall
•Jamaica Arts Center
and performance spaces around the country. Not limited in her capacity to reach audiences beyond well known venues, she has also performed in schools, churches, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, community colleges / universities,drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, senior centers, hospitals, outdoor festivals,cozy living rooms and backyard barbeques!
Gha'il has shared the stage with some of the most outstanding musicians in the world. These talented musicians accentuate the spoken word. Their tones and rhythms paint the atmosphere with positive energies that ignite the stage with sparks of enthusiasm and creativity. They are...... Tom Aalfs, Conrad Adderly,Warren Benbow, Roy Campbell, Frank Colon, Marlene Rice-Cooper, George Gray, Jeff Haynes, Tyrone Henderson, LeRoy Hyter, Brian Jackson, Calvin Jones, Joao Lewis, Abdou Mboup, Aziza Miller, Brandon Miller, Gregg Payne, Lonnie Plaxico, Nicki Parrot, Bernard Purdie, Spike Rebel(Carnell Newbill), Michael Rey, Lumumba Reynolds, Orlando "Q" Rodriguez, Nioka Workman, Joe Xley....and many more.
She's authentic, she's talented, mesmerizing and a breath of fresh air. Gha'il's magic with words are life transforming and mind expanding.......
Les Brown author and speaker
Gha'il Rhodes Benjamin is a true artist. She writes and performs poems and stories that spring from the soul of her own experience, which she conveys with passion, conviction, and a musical sense of the language.
-- T.J. English, author and screenwriter
The stage beckons this innovative poet...
--Amsterdam News
Looking for poetic enlightenmentat your next event? Spoken words
are good on every menu..............
Try some!
talkingpoems_aol.com
Stay featured or remove this badge.
