‘Spoken-Word’ Performers Recite in Volumes--or Whispers

The L.A. club scene, besides offering the standard diet of rock ‘n’ roll, jazz and country, occasionally serves up something called “spoken word.” Cafe Largo in the Fairfax District and McCabe’s in Santa Monica regularly present spoken-word performances.

But what exactly is spoken word? And what distinguishes it from simple book readings or poetry that have been featured at clubs for several decades?

Harvey Kubernik, who has produced dozens of spoken-word records, explained:

“A poetry reading is part of a much more controlled repertoire, while spoken word encompasses a book reading, a poem, extemporaneous speech, social satire or just plain observations. Poetry is concerned about rhythms and structure. Not so for spoken word.”

A simple rule seems to govern spoken word: the artist must recite words in one form or another. They are sometimes accompanied by music.

“I’ve had people shouting, and I’ve had people whispering,” said Richard Bruland, owner of BeBop in Reseda, who offers spoken-word shows as often as three times a month. “The only thing I require is they speak, not sing.”

In addition, Kubernik said, promoting an event as a “spoken-word performance” is likely to attract more fans than a straight poetry reading.

“I think ‘poetry reading’ is almost an ancient term,” Kubernik said. “It’s not going to entice an MTV child to invest $8 to see someone. Everything needs a tag, a label. For a lot of club owners, using ‘spoken-word performance’ sits better in the entertainment world.”

Kubernik said the popularity of spoken-word performances is gradually growing. He said he has received increasing requests from fans about the performers he produces. “People want to know if these people have books out and records out. I must be getting about eight times as many letters.”

One of those performers is Wanda Coleman, 42, who regularly reads pieces from “Heavy Daughter Blues,” her published collection of short-fiction pieces about life. She said the same standards expected in rock ‘n’ roll and other forms of music must be applied to spoken word.

“Being in Hollywood, there’s so much else out here that people can do,” Coleman said. “You have to reach a level of emotional intensity in your reading. After a reading, I’ve had people come up to me and say, ‘I thought I hated poetry, but your poetry is alive.’ ”

AWARDS: Dave Durham of Van Nuys has done it again. In September, he captured the male entertainer of the year award from the Los Angeles branch of the California Country Music Assn. Recently, he won the association’s award as the state’s best songwriter of the year. He also won for best band of the year--Dave Durham and the Bull Durham Band--and for the best record of the year, “In My Car.”

“I really am surprised,” Durham said. “I have never been active in the group or even been to one of their meetings.”

But “In My Car,” his 1988 country-rock song about the satisfaction and freedom that can be obtained by singing in the car, peaked at No. 19 on the chart of independent country recordings. Durham said he has received numerous offers from publishers who want to purchase the song and re-release it with a different, and more well-known, artist. The song was initially released by Pearl Records.

So far, Durham has turned them down.

“Right now, I’m having a blast with it myself,” said Durham, 35, “and I’d like to see if I can get it released nationally under a different label. I think it could be the commuters’ anthem. But if not, I will probably give it to some publisher someday.”