Album Notes

Welcome to Rhythm and Muse, a different Kind of book. It is a testimony to life wrapped in color and subliminal sounds. The goal is to create a stylistic prose that weaves verse, visual art, and the pulse of music into a multimedia statement. Some of the refelections and images are laced with photo art and water colors, while others dance to the original lyrics of kin. The sum is the song of a person born into an arbittary, social cage with the door ajar, a human being able to recall pathways to everywhere, thinking holistically and smiling with determination to be free.

The companion CD is a type of audio book, with selected readings from the author and kin weave together with music from Livin Out Loud. Reviewers have had this to say:

"Remininiscent of the poetic wisdom-speak of great renaissance writers like Gordon Parks, Thomas MacCalla carries us through a lifetime of blended reflections and renderings in "Rhythm & Muse". It is "Word Music" of the highest expresssion. A Must read for lovers of contemporary poetry, prose and music"- Dwight Ellis, Global Media Consultant

"Rhythm and Muse by Thomas MacCalla, is a masterful multimedia work of prose, poetry and music that recounts the story of his fascinating life as an African American educator, entrepreneur and community activitgst. This bbok reveals his creative mind, his energetic, and visionary spirit andd his tireless advocacy for social change, racial equality, and a multicultural society."- Jewelle Taylor Gibbs, PH.D Zellerbach Family Fund Professor Emnertia, University of California at Berkeley.

"TAMs peoems hold and keep our highest values our treasures, imagination, freedom, democracy. offspring."- Maxine Hong Kingston, Writer and Poet