Jack & Adelle Foley

I think that many critics are into duplication, willing to accept, meekly, any orthodoxy. Jack Foley is a maverick. His not being tied to any institution gives him the freedom to explore aspects of American culture that others are too timid to dwell upon. As a result, his ideas are original, whether they be about the music and life of Cole Porter or the novelist, James Joyce. He's always teaching me things. For example, we recently drove to Santa Rosa for a poetry reading. He played a CD by Jelly Roll Morton, which included the longest blues song that I'd ever heard and some language that would make a Gangsta Rapper blush. Way back there in 1905. His radio show is so good that I have reprinted entire transcripts on my website. His journal about his trip to Syria should be required reading for all of the Washington war-mongers. Jack Foley's contribution to American culture will be lasting.

                                                  -- Ishmael Reed

HOT LINKS

Alsop Review

Al Young

Bay Area Poets Seasonal Review

Katherine Hastings/Word Temple

Ishmael Reed

Michael McClure

Poetry Flash

• Alsop Review Foley's Books
• Dana Gioia Essay, O Powerful Western Star
• Website: www.jack-adellefoley.com/ ;

• Ekleksographia (Jack Foley issue):

http://ekleksographia.ahadadabooks.com/skillman/ ;

• The Tower Journal (regular contributor):

http://www.towerjournal.com ;

• Jack Foley echapbook: A Disordered City:

http://ekleksographia.ahadadabooks.com/ebooks/jack_foley_disordered_city.pdf ;

• San Francisco Examiner article by Jannie Dresser:

http://www.examiner.com/x-4545-SF-Poetry-Examiner~y2010m5d20-Berkeley-Poetry-Festival-to-honor-Renaissance-poetcritic-Jack-Foley-June-5 ;

• Reprint of Examiner article plus Marvin Hiemstra’s review of The Dancer & the Dance:

http://bayareapoetsreview.com/honoring_foley ;

• Christopher Bernard’s review of The Dancer & the Dance:

http://www.poetryflash.org/PF_MOSTLY_BOOKS.html ;

• Berkeley Poetry Festival site:

http://www.mothershen.com/pages/2010berkeleypoetryfestival.html ;

• Berkeley Poetry Festival on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Berkeley+Poetry+Festival&aq=f ;

• Jack Foley ebook: King Amour:

http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/king-amour/11781047 ;

• Animation of Jack and Adelle Foley by JJ Webb:

http://www.cruziocafe.com/Foley_22008-1final.html

Should we speak profanely in wise of his unmounded girth of humor for every passing skirt that waves its youth of colors high but old tusker the Jack of Fools is there to renarrate how from Porter's coal to the link between Joyce and Olson fares river rewinding down each and hovering trough of unconscious abode 'til limelight us finds hunkering in Eva's tide swept away ah ivver slept a wave, aweigh!

        -- Ivan Arguelles