An Unlikely Partnership

What an interesting story! I'm not into poetry at all, but several of the poems read were amazing, and it blows me away that a heavily-accented Swedish composer can get together with an poetry-writing American inmate and make these things happen. Listen for the poem "Beauty in Cell Bars", it's worth it all by itself. I love the narrator's measured but natural voice. And Spoon Jackson reads as well as he writes. Good audio.

A Swede and state convict walk into a bar… well kind of. Spoon Jackson is behind bars for life. Classical composer Stefan Säfsten’s bars are on the sheet music. Through a common friend these two men meet and a collaboration of music and poetry begins, resulting in a CD entitled "Frihet för de Fångna/Freedom for the Prisoned". In listening to the words and music of the composer and the poetry of this PEN award winning prison poet, there’s an engaging synergy, that unfortunately isn’t reflected in the delivery of the bookend narration on this 9 minute meditation, but that doesn’t detract from the curious appeal of this piece. The poet Jackson’s voice comes sounds slightly tinny and metallic, but it actually seems to add a slightly haunting dimension to Säfsten’s composition. Local references in the narration may make this piece difficult to place, but a few minor changes in the text and energy of the presenter can make this piece more airable on a variety of stations with classical & public affairs program segments.