GUESTBOOK

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July 4, 2006

by Terri Westerman

Stephen Kalinich's weekend in Atlanta... åquite inspirational...

I had the good fortune to attend 2 Stephen Kalinich poetry readings over the weekend in Atlanta. Both times he was accompanied by Jez Graham, a hugely talented local songwriter/musician. Jez himself was a huge fan of Stephen's before ever getting the opportunity to team up to collaborate with Stephen on a new CD called

You Can Soar

a collection of music which Jez has set to Stephen's poetry. Stephen writes, emails his poetry to Jez and Jez sets it to music only after, as he puts it "he waits until the music comes to him." It is quite an extraordinary CD -- if you get the chance to hear it, be sure to do so. I believe it is for sale on his website JezGraham.com |

I am not a huge fan of poetry per se and probably wouldn't have gone to a poetry reading if I didn't know who the poet was but I must tell you, even putting that fact aside, the experience of hearing a poet read his own poetry -- hearing the passion of it, the inflections and emphasis placed on each word -- pretty powerful stuff. I don't know if every poet can convey such emotions, but I can tell you for a fact that Stephen Kalinich certainly can. He did a reading of Be Still -- incredibly beautiful. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the song and its lyrics. And Jez being the Beach Boy devotee that he is, accompanied Stephen's readings with the same heart and soul.

Stephen Kalinich is a very soft spoken, understated guy, very open and approachable, spiritual in his own right. He happily signed my "Carl" ESQ edition to which he had contributed his own emotional feelings on Carl's passing and the loss shared by so many.

If I couldn't have been at the Cannery this past weekend then I am convinced I was in the next best place -- in the company of the true spirit of the music of the Beach Boys and their many talented friends, fans, and musicians.

Ever since I "crossed over" to the side of fanaticsm 2 years ago after hearing Pet Sounds for the first time, it's all been one big adventure for me. I've met so many enthusiastic fans who are so knowledgable about the whole BB/BW epic and who are themselves accomplished musicians, writers. and giving people.

From XM studios, to St Louis, to the cross country Hollywood Bowl impulsiveness, it's one big exploration. This weekend just added another piece to that journey.

Terri

ps: Jez mentioned Jerry Boyd during his Friday night concert in appreciation and in fact, Jerry's is the first name in a lengthy list of names listed on the You Can Soar CD liner notes who Jez & Stephen thank.