Music Friyay: Sidney Bechet, Shilpa Ray, Frankie Avalon

By Joanna C. Valente

Here’s some music, new and old, you should listen to and check out:

Sidney Bichet - “Summertime'“

Bichet was the first jazz soloist (a clarinet player who came before Louis Armstrong). His rendition of “Summertime” is exquisite.

Shilpa Ray - “Add Value Add Time”

Ray’s song is a mashup of reggae tones with strong vocals and clever lyrics.

Frankie Avalon - “Venus”

Who doesn’t love a classic love song that makes you feel like romance isn’t dead?

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Joanna C. Valente is a human who lives in Brooklyn, New York. They are the author of Sirs & Madams, The Gods Are Dead, Marys of the Sea, Sexting Ghosts, Xenos, No(body) (forthcoming, Madhouse Press, 2019), and is the editor of A Shadow Map: Writing by Survivors of Sexual Assault. They received their MFA in writing at Sarah Lawrence College. Joanna is the founder of Yes Poetry and the senior managing editor for Luna Luna Magazine. Some of their writing has appeared in The Rumpus, Them, Brooklyn Magazine, BUST, and elsewhere. Joanna also leads workshops at Brooklyn Poets. joannavalente.com / Twitter: @joannasaid / IG: joannacvalente / FB: joannacvalente