August 16, 2020
A Tribute to ruth weiss by Dan Roberts
ruth weiss, often referred to as the Beat Goddess, was an Albion resident for some 40 years. She was internationally recognized as an innovator in performing poetry accompanied by jazz musicians. She is a legend of the SF beat scene of the 50s and 60s, as well as in New Orleans, Vienna, and many other cultural centers around the world. She was born in 1928 in Berlin and spent her early years fleeing anti-jewish persecution with her parents. Eventually she arrived in New York City. After the end of WW2 she returned with her parents to Germany for a few years and then back to Chicago, where she began developing live poetry with jazz musicians. In the early 50s she arrived in North Beach in San Francisco where she performed in the same venues as Ferlinghetti, Kerouac, and Hirschman. There is a recently completed feature documentary about her called “ruth weiss, the beat goddess,” by Melody Miller and Elizabeth Montgomery
After moving to Mendocino County ruth often performed at our various venues, both as a featured reader and at open mics. At five foot zero her words, and voice, brought the room to attention. I was lucky enough to record her performances many times, and lucky enough to develop a friendship with her. Today I will be playing 18 of her poems, 16 of them I recorded in our fortunate county. I have segued her words with a mixture of music from around the world.
RhythmRunningRiver August 16, 2020 first hour
1ruth weiss_Each Day00:33
2Ora Sittner (Israel)_Qyria04:00
3ruth weiss_4102:44
4Ofra Haza (Israel)_Kaddish05:00
5ruth weiss_193902:06
6Lido Pimienta (Colombia)_SOL02:51
7ruth weiss_Listen Poppa01:41
8Ofra Haza (Israel)_Goral Echad03:34
9ruth weiss_Years Before Beatnik06:16
10The Pace Setters (Ghana)_Blinking Eye04:46
11ruth weiss_Tenten03:26
12Trilok Gurtu (India)_The Beat Of Love05:14
13ruth weiss_5X7 5X1206:55
14Rabih Abou-Khalil (Lebanon)_Nada02:06
15ruth weiss_Turnabout02:34
total 54:18
RhythmRunningRiver August 16, 2020 Second Hour
1ruth weiss_Albion River Bridge01:13
2The Pace Setters (Ghana)_Something Lefeh-O04:43
3ruth weiss_Beast be a saint01:03
4Toronto Tabla Ensemble (Canada)_Maryem's Here04:41
5ruth weiss_Holocaust Remembrance04:22
6Ofra Haza (Israel)_Trains Of No Return04:34
7ruth weiss_fire works01:45
8Toronto Tabla Ensemble (Canada)_Dream Symposium03:54
9ruth weiss_200900:56
10Trilok Gurtu (India)_Maya05:09
11ruth weiss_Postcard 199503:13
12Lido Pimienta (Colombia)_Nada04:58
13ruth weiss_One More Step West Is The Sea01:20
14The Pace Setters (Ghana)_Daa Daa Edikanfo05:08
15ruth weiss_196700:48
total 48:18