The basis of Jazz is raw talent, creativity, and improvisation; no other genre of music really focuses on these elements in the way Jazz does. Jazz performer Darcus Gates took the Blue Room stage and entranced the audience with a lively performance. The way she connected with the audience is unparalleled. Taking song requests, involving guests in being a part of the show, and having candid dialogue with her guests, she added a special touch to her performance that both impressed and surprised.
Gates had an opening act to impress. She introduced two young spoken word poetry artists, Angela Franklin, 18, and Mia Plant, 15. The duo eagerly took the stage, but didn’t prepare the audience for what was about to happen. Their original and raw lyrics told the ugly truth of the hardships of being a young woman in society today, figuring out love, life and reflecting on how actions can turn into unwanted consequences.
Franklin and Plant are no strangers to performing at the Blue Room. Franklin has been a part of Jazz Poetry Jams since the eighth grade; she and Plant have performed at the annual slam poetry competition, Louder Than a Bomb. “We met in forensics, our forensics coach thought Angie’s a great poet, Mia’s a great poet, so you should come together and create something. Our first time performing together was at Louder than a Bomb, and that’s when we knew it clicked,” said Plant. Both are avid forensics enthusiasts, and honed their talents through the forensics program at Sumner Academy.
The two already have their different creative processes down, which can take some artists years to achieve. “I just write what’s in my heart. If something’s bothering me and I need to get it off my mind because I don’t feel comfortable telling anyone else. This is the way I tell people how I feel, with poetry,” said Franklin. Plant waits for spur of the moment inspiration. “I have a real weird poetry process. I can hear or see something that inspires me to write a poem, but I’m not going to sit and think about it, it comes to me and just flows,” said Plant.
When it came to performing for a national artist in one of the most celebrated Jazz venues in the country, Franklin and Plant couldn’t hold back their excitement. “I was like ‘Oh my goodness Angie, were going to be famous!’ Darcus told us, ‘I want you to be in one of my shows, because I think you guys are so awesome, I think you were the best poets,’ said Plant.
Afterward, Franklin reflected on her experience performing for Gates. “Her crowd was more of the Jazz type, they really weren’t expecting any poetry. The outcome of performing for Darcus makes it better than winning first place. We caught their eye, and captivated the audience. We now have people that want us to perform for them other places, it opens more doors,” said Franklin.
Plant and Franklin performed at the Convoy of Hope event in Kansas City, which is a collaborative effort in which volunteers bring hope to a city through free services, necessities, and prayer. Franklin will be attending the University of Kansas in the fall majoring in business, but will continue to perform with Kansas City’s Youth Poetry Sound team, organized by Glenn North, American Jazz Museum Education Manager and Poet-in- Residence. They compete at the national poetry competition Brave New Voices and other significant events. “I kindly accepted because I love performing poetry and if it takes me to other places, that’s even better,” said Franklin. Plant will be a junior in the fall at Sumner Academy and has plans to focus on her solo career in forensics and spoken word poetry.
It’s not very often artists hand select their opening acts, especially artists that young, but that’s Jazz. Jazz is one of the only types of music that connects and builds a relationship with youth. It’s about giving another artist that one chance that someone granted you along the road to success. This is something special and unique to Jazz, artists are privy to pay it forward, without expecting anything in return. This is the type of experience unique to the Blue Room, which allows rising talent to flourish, and art to flow free.
Don't miss Darcus Gates at the Blue Room September 27.
About Demetra Kopulos: Demetra is a Journalism and Digital Media Major at Kansas State University. She is currently serving as an online and media intern at the American Jazz Museum. She does artist features, blog posts, interviews, and manages social media for their various sites.
Gates had an opening act to impress. She introduced two young spoken word poetry artists, Angela Franklin, 18, and Mia Plant, 15. The duo eagerly took the stage, but didn’t prepare the audience for what was about to happen. Their original and raw lyrics told the ugly truth of the hardships of being a young woman in society today, figuring out love, life and reflecting on how actions can turn into unwanted consequences.
Franklin and Plant are no strangers to performing at the Blue Room. Franklin has been a part of Jazz Poetry Jams since the eighth grade; she and Plant have performed at the annual slam poetry competition, Louder Than a Bomb. “We met in forensics, our forensics coach thought Angie’s a great poet, Mia’s a great poet, so you should come together and create something. Our first time performing together was at Louder than a Bomb, and that’s when we knew it clicked,” said Plant. Both are avid forensics enthusiasts, and honed their talents through the forensics program at Sumner Academy.
The two already have their different creative processes down, which can take some artists years to achieve. “I just write what’s in my heart. If something’s bothering me and I need to get it off my mind because I don’t feel comfortable telling anyone else. This is the way I tell people how I feel, with poetry,” said Franklin. Plant waits for spur of the moment inspiration. “I have a real weird poetry process. I can hear or see something that inspires me to write a poem, but I’m not going to sit and think about it, it comes to me and just flows,” said Plant.
When it came to performing for a national artist in one of the most celebrated Jazz venues in the country, Franklin and Plant couldn’t hold back their excitement. “I was like ‘Oh my goodness Angie, were going to be famous!’ Darcus told us, ‘I want you to be in one of my shows, because I think you guys are so awesome, I think you were the best poets,’ said Plant.
Afterward, Franklin reflected on her experience performing for Gates. “Her crowd was more of the Jazz type, they really weren’t expecting any poetry. The outcome of performing for Darcus makes it better than winning first place. We caught their eye, and captivated the audience. We now have people that want us to perform for them other places, it opens more doors,” said Franklin.
Plant and Franklin performed at the Convoy of Hope event in Kansas City, which is a collaborative effort in which volunteers bring hope to a city through free services, necessities, and prayer. Franklin will be attending the University of Kansas in the fall majoring in business, but will continue to perform with Kansas City’s Youth Poetry Sound team, organized by Glenn North, American Jazz Museum Education Manager and Poet-in- Residence. They compete at the national poetry competition Brave New Voices and other significant events. “I kindly accepted because I love performing poetry and if it takes me to other places, that’s even better,” said Franklin. Plant will be a junior in the fall at Sumner Academy and has plans to focus on her solo career in forensics and spoken word poetry.
It’s not very often artists hand select their opening acts, especially artists that young, but that’s Jazz. Jazz is one of the only types of music that connects and builds a relationship with youth. It’s about giving another artist that one chance that someone granted you along the road to success. This is something special and unique to Jazz, artists are privy to pay it forward, without expecting anything in return. This is the type of experience unique to the Blue Room, which allows rising talent to flourish, and art to flow free.
Don't miss Darcus Gates at the Blue Room September 27.
About Demetra Kopulos: Demetra is a Journalism and Digital Media Major at Kansas State University. She is currently serving as an online and media intern at the American Jazz Museum. She does artist features, blog posts, interviews, and manages social media for their various sites.
