Report #44

Happy Anniversary!

This week's episode marks the one-year anniversary of Report from the Mountains. To celebrate, I went into the studios of 90.1, near my old home town of Saginaw, Michigan, to chat with station manager Howard Sharper about the origins and evolution of the show, and to read a couple poems that seem to best illustrate the Grizfork experience: "HeartStones" and "Breakfast with Matthiessen."

In 46 installments (Episode #1 was recorded before the two pilot episodes so the numbering is a bit off), RFTM has brought you over 50 poems, including many that were heard here before being read or published anywhere else. Poets other than myself who've been featured include Jim Harrison, William Heyen, Greg Keeler, Simon Ortiz, Al Hellus, Gina Myers, Carlos Cumpain, Jim Crissman and Rosie King. The Report has also brought you some of the greatest jazz ever recorded from the giants like Art Blakey, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Sun Ra, John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley, as well as from great musicians you may have heard here for the first time like The Lounge Lizards, the Arthur Blythe Trio, Faruq Z. Bey & The Northwoods Improvisers, the Tony Overwater Trio, Trevor Watts & Jamie Harris and Sahib Shihab.

Coming in this next year of RTM will be more poets and great music, as well as a few special developments I have strong hopes for. One of my goals is to find more radio stations to feature the Report. Right now, it's heard on its home station of WUCX, Delta College Public Radio, but I'm hoping soon to have it featured at several others.


Another goal for year two will be the release of a limited edition, hand-bound chapbook of poetry and observations from the Grizfork that will include many of the vignettes featured on this program. The manuscript is finished and should be in production soon. Stay tuned!


Click below to listen to the special anniversary episode:
Report #44