Jazzmouth Seacoast Poetry and Jazz Festival

Love poetry or jazz? Or both? You'll be well covered this week with several events happening as part of the Jazzmouth Seacoast Poetry and Jazz Festival, starting tonight and going through Sunday, April 27th! Jazzmouth offers four days of unique celebrations of poetry and jazz and the connections between them, all of them taking place in a variety of venues in Portsmouth. Here's the schedule for the festival:

Thursday, April 24

• 5:30 PM: Traditional Jazz at The Press Room with Larry Garland and Friends (free admission). Contact The Press Room for further details at 603-431-5186.
• 8:00 PM: Jazzmouth Film Festival at Bourbon's (Downstairs at the Muddy River). Screening of "Witchcraft Through the Ages", featuring soundtrack by Jean-Luc Ponty and narration by Beat writer William S. Burroughs. Live music by Larry Simon & Groove Bacteria with The Seacoast All-Stars & David Amram, and readings of works by William Burroughs. $7 admission. Contact Bourbon's for further information at 603-430-9582.
  

Friday, April 25

• 10:30-11:30 AM: Poetry Coffee Break at Breaking New Grounds featuring five favorite New England poets. Free admission. Contact Breaking New Grounds at 603-436-9555.
• 8:00 PM: JAZZMOUTH EXTRAVAGANZA AT THE MUSIC HALL IN PORTSMOUTH (28 Chestnut Street) featuring Billy Collins, David Amram, Larry Simon Ensemble and many other guest poets and musicians, and dancer Helena Molene. To purchase tickets go to: http://themusichall.org/. Tickets: $22.50 ($18.50 seniors and students).
  

Saturday, April 26

• 11:00 AM-12:00 PM: Young Writers Beat Night Festival at RiverRun Books (tel. 603-431-2100). This event features area teenage writers reading with musical accompaniment by The Larry Simon Ensemble, including special guest David Amram. Free admission.
• 1:00-3:00 PM: Performance Workshop at The Portsmouth Public Library. Free admission.
• 5:00 PM: Book Signing with David Amram at RiverRun Books. Free admission.
• 6:00 PM: Dinner and Poetry by the Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program, at The Spring Hill Tavern (downstairs at The Dolphin Striker) with featured readers and an open mic. Contact Spring Hill Tavern at 603-431-5222. Admission is free, food and drink prices according to menu.
• 8:00 PM: Jazzmouth Jazz Festival at The Press Room, with the Cheverus High School jazz band, poetry and jazz by FD Reeve, David Amram, and Don Davis, and headliner jazz great Sheila Jordan with The Harvey Diamond Trio. $5 admission.
  

Sunday, April 27

• 11:30 AM-2:00 PM: Jazz/Poetry Brunch at The Library Restaurant (at The Rockingham). Featuring 10 writers and musician Larry Simon w/ special guests including David Amram and others. Reservations (603) 431-5202; brunch is $22 (price subject to change).