SONIA SANCHEZ: Full Moon of Sonia

Sonia Sanchez

Full Moon of Sonia

© 2004 VIA International Artists (180843000013)

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The "Full Moon of Sonia" celebrates the groundbreaking work of Ms. Sanchez' in an eclectic mix of spoken word, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and blues.

notes

"Full Moon of Sonia" is a celebration of the life and work of a cultural icon and national treasure of Sonia Sanchez, affectionately and deservedly known as the "Poet Laureate of the Planet". It fuses a wide range of musical styles with the poetry of Sonia Sanchez in a groundbreaking CD that underscores Ms. Sanchez' contribution to poetry and performance in the 20th century. Further, Ms. Sanchez' unique performance style serves as a reminder of her impact on the oral tradition in African-American literature.

Her influence is far-reaching and wide ranging and can be heard in such artists as Mos Def, Jill Scott, Talib, Rakin, to name a few. She has been a guest artist on albums with greats such as Diana Ross and has collaborated with such artists as Eric Benet. Her latest album, the first in 25 years, reflects a diverse offering of musical and poetic styles that spans R&B, Jazz, Afro-Cuban, Gospel, and Hip-Hop. This breakthrough CD marks a new plateau in a career that stretches over four decades. On this CD, Ms. Sanchez has assembled some of the finest composers, musicians, and vocalists working in music today.

"Sonia Sanchez is a lion in literature's forest...This world is a better place because of Sonia Sanchez: more livable, more laughable, more manageable. I wish millions of people knew that some of the joy in their lives comes from the fact that Sonia Sanchez is writing poetry."
- Maya Angelou

"In all her words, Sanchez grabs your heart."
- Julia Chance, Vibe

"The poetry of Sonia Sanchez is full of power and yet always clear and uncluttered. It makes you wish you had thought those thoughts, felt those emotions, an above all, expressed them so effortlessly and so well."
- Chinua Achebe

"With an unblinking and critical poet's eye, Sonia Sanchez has been setting her readers straight, telling the 'terrible beauty', and reflecting images in ways that simultaneously solicit tears and laughter. For over thirty years this revolutionary poet has been undeterred from a path that began in the sixties. She has not given up the struggle to let her poetry be what she refers to as a 'call to arms' for her people."
- Juanita Johnson-Bailey, Ms Magazine

Poet. Mother. Activist. Professor. National and international lecturer on Black Culture and Literature, Women's Liberation, Peace and Racial Justice. Sponsor of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Board Member of MADRE. She has been recognized as one of the most important figures in African-American and Women's literature.

Sonia Sanchez is the author of more than 16 Homecoming, We a BaddDDD People, Love Poems, I've Been a Woman: New and Selected Poems, A Sound Investment and Other Stories, Homegirls & Handgrenades (winner of the 1985 American Book Award), Under a Soprano Sky, Wounded in the House of a Friend (Beacon Press 1995), Does Your House Have Lions (Beacon Press 1997, finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award), Like the Singing Coming off the Drums (Beacon Press 1998), and most recently Shake Loose My Skin: New and Selected Poems (Beacon Press, 1999). In addition to being a contributor to Black Scholar and The Journal of African Studies, she has edited two anthologies: We Be Word Sorcerers: 25 Stories by Black Americans and 360° of Blackness Coming at You. B.M.A.: The Sonia Sanchez Literary Review is the first African American Journal that discusses the work of Sonia Sanchez and the Black Arts Movement.

Most notably, Ms. Sanchez is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Award, the Lucretia Mott Award for 1984, the Outstanding Arts Award from the Pennsylvania Coalition of 100 Black Women, the Community Service Award from the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Humanities for 1988, the Peace and Freedom Award from Women International League for Peace and Freedom (W.I.L.P.F.) for 1989, a Pew Fellowship in the Arts for 1992-1993, and the Langston Hughes Poetry Award for 1999. She is the Poetry Society of America's 2001 Robert Frost Medalist, Ford Freedom Scholar from the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, a recipient of the Otto Awards for 2001, and the recipient of the 2004 Harper Lee Award. Her poetry also appeared in the movie "Love Jones".

Ms. Sanchez has lectured at more than five hundred universities and colleges in the United States and has traveled extensively, reading her poetry in Africa, Cuba, England, the Caribbean, Australia, Nicaragua, the People's Republic of China, Norway, and Canada. She was the first Presidential Fellow at Temple University and held the Laura Carnell Chair in English there until her retirement in 1999.

reviews

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  • WOW!
    author: Selah Watkins

    This CD is off the chain! As an up and coming spoken word artist it blessed my soul to see her at the Black Academy of Arts here in Dallas, TX. To sit and learn from her for those few hours was priceless! When I touched her hand I was touching history! I am so grateful that she would carve out a path for the next generation of poets!

  • author: 2SerenityTravel.com

    Divine! Sonia Sanchez is poetry! Thank you for making the CD available!

  • Supreme word Goddess, Sonia Sanchez, honors life with scintillating music consor
    author: sylvia ann soares

    Smokin' CD! The fine musicians and Sonia's many voices had me jumpin,' hollerin' and pouring my heart out! Sonia honors all life from the soul to the sensual with a timeless wisdom of a true Goddess! There should be a "Full Moon of Sonia" evernight!

  • A powerful fusion of music and words.
    author: Konyka Dunson

    This CD is powerful. Each song is a blend of Sonia Sanchez's words and music that brings the soul in the words forward. The music is stirring--with spiritual vocals, drums, jazz and ballads that make you feel heartache and hope. This CD belongs on every lover of music's shelf. It is no ordinary spoken word CD with words over music...it is a fusion of spirit and sound.

  • Poetry / Spoken Word becomes main stream.
    author: Phillip Gregory / G&A Productions

    Poetry and Rhythm done correctly. Easy listening for the drive home, calming and uplifting at the same time. This Cd is a must have for your cd rack. FULL MOON OF SONIA. is in rotation on my radio show bravooo.

  • author: Ruth Jordan

    Just listen to the preview - you'll be sold - can't wait to get my cd!

  • author: Omonigho

    Full Moon of Sonia is a special gift from this uber talented artist, poet, writer. Sonia successfully fuses, soul, poetry, hip hop, bop and unique sound of repeitious echoes/messages that touch and inspire. She is a dynamic artist, who has to be placed on a lamp post so that her light can shine. Full Moon of Sonia, is Sonia calling to us to live, love, make changes and yes...to...resist

  • sanchez sensational
    author: Emilie Townes

    this cd is an awesome blend of sanchez's words and music. no one reads her poetry like she can and the power of this is enhanced by musical accompaniment that helps rather than detracts. buy it and be challenged and renewed.

  • Experience the passion/ of poetry /feeling/ rhythmm and sooul/snapppp!
    author: Leo student from Niagara University

    This CD brings alive the beautiful sound of poetry entwined in rhythm mixed with soul which comes alive in the beat of your heart, and in the beat of your culture as the musical score lifts you up to touch the heavens and back to touch your identity of self.

  • author: John McKevitt

    Sanchez is a wonderful poet and to hear her speak the lines is to add an important element to the experience. The poem “Under a Soprano Sky” contains some of the most compelling imagery I’ve ever read (now heard.)

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