Jazz
Jazz (aka James Patrick Gerrard) is our sturdy left-back who hails from the notorious Penywaun estate near Aberdare (notorious because he lives there!). The last time Jazz appeared in our colours (well.....colour....red) was at the Merthyr Punkfest, where he turned in a star performance but declared that it was his “last ever gig”. I only hope he has returned from Missionary work in the depths of Queen Street (he’s a committed Christian) and will become a Born Again Bard.
Jazz is an ex-miner and one of his highlights so far is undoubtedly doing a reading for Tower colliery on the same bill as Billy Bragg. He has a trick which is the poetic equivalent of ‘the Cruyff turn’, a poem called ‘Giro City’ which appeared in our very first issue. Jazz always reads this and has destroyed many an ear-drum throughout Wales with his distinctive rendering. Another Red Poet ,Tim Richards (who has a hearing aid) knows exactly when to turn it off!
Jazz is truly one of the funniest people around and has an unending self-deprecating wit which usually comments on his own precarious mental state. His sense of humour is evident in some of his shorter pieces like ‘Equal Opportunities’. He also writes harrowing confessional poetry telling of past abuse in a very candid way.
He is invaluable to have in the squad, not least because of his physical presence. At a Cardiff eco-cafe he saw off the pretentious King Arthur Pendragon with his own sword and at the SWP Conference he righteously gave their amps ‘a good kickin’’ when they refused to let us do a second set because they wanted to dance.
His achievements are all the more remarkable as he was classed as ‘Special Needs’ in school, due to his dyslexia. Doing a workshop with so-called ‘slow- learners’ at my former school in Merthyr he was inspirational: he genuinely empathized with the kids and spurred them on to write.
Jazz used to be in a punk band and music is a major influence on his poetry. Check out his readings on our ‘Live in Blackwood’ page and you’ll get some idea of the talents of this hard-tackling and skillful left-back.
Jazz is an ex-miner and one of his highlights so far is undoubtedly doing a reading for Tower colliery on the same bill as Billy Bragg. He has a trick which is the poetic equivalent of ‘the Cruyff turn’, a poem called ‘Giro City’ which appeared in our very first issue. Jazz always reads this and has destroyed many an ear-drum throughout Wales with his distinctive rendering. Another Red Poet ,Tim Richards (who has a hearing aid) knows exactly when to turn it off!
Jazz is truly one of the funniest people around and has an unending self-deprecating wit which usually comments on his own precarious mental state. His sense of humour is evident in some of his shorter pieces like ‘Equal Opportunities’. He also writes harrowing confessional poetry telling of past abuse in a very candid way.
He is invaluable to have in the squad, not least because of his physical presence. At a Cardiff eco-cafe he saw off the pretentious King Arthur Pendragon with his own sword and at the SWP Conference he righteously gave their amps ‘a good kickin’’ when they refused to let us do a second set because they wanted to dance.
His achievements are all the more remarkable as he was classed as ‘Special Needs’ in school, due to his dyslexia. Doing a workshop with so-called ‘slow- learners’ at my former school in Merthyr he was inspirational: he genuinely empathized with the kids and spurred them on to write.
Jazz used to be in a punk band and music is a major influence on his poetry. Check out his readings on our ‘Live in Blackwood’ page and you’ll get some idea of the talents of this hard-tackling and skillful left-back.