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PSI STORE: 
What Learning Leaves
"Taylor Mali speaks of the world of the teacher with power and grace. His work is filled with the energy, joy, pathos, and humor of everyday life in the classroom. Strong and compassionate, his voice is our voice. He's been there." Michele Forman, 2001 US Teacher of the Year
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Top Secret Slam Strategies
Top Secret Slam Strategies - Taylor Mali
This book is much more than a collection of slam strategies from the only three-time winner of the nationals (although there is some of that). It's a hilarious glimpse into the entire slam community, with good natured jabs at everyone from Marc Smith to Deb Marsh. The blurbs alone read like a who's who of slam. With an intro by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz.
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The Difference Between Left & Wrong by Taylor Mali
The master slam strategist's first tape has been rereleased on CD. Includes "I want a woman," Poet at the 12-step meeting," and "I could be a poet."
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Poems from the Like Free Zone by Taylor Mali
With over one thousand copies having been sold since November 2000, Like-Free Zone (Mali's first new recording in five years) mixes new favorites, including "What Teachers Make," with old standbys such as "Like Totally Whatever." The sound is absolutely pristine, having been recorded in the voiceover studio of the William Morris Agency.
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Conviction by Taylor Mali
Conviction ISBN: 1-893972-06-2 Taylor Mali1s first 100% live album. Twenty-two beautifully recorded tracks from seven different performances in the last couple years, Ann Arbor to Anchorage. With artwork designed by Vadim Litvak and liner notes by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz, CONVICTION also contains many multi-voiced poems which existed for only a summer or, in one case, one single live performance.
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NYC Urbana Spoken Word Underground
Live performances from the stage of 2000 Championship Venue, NYC Urbana at CBGBs. 27 poets in total, including all members from both championship teams and selected spotlight poets. Includes works from Jeff McDaniel, Taylor Mali, John S. Hall, Beau Sia, Derrick Brown, Shappy, Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz, Evert Eden, Jack McCarthy, Noel Jones, Alexis O'Hara, the 2000 NYC Urbana Group Piece and more.
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Best of NYC-Urbana 2002
Best of NYC-Urbana 2002 Live at the Bowery Poetry Club! Another pristine recording from the three-time national championship venue! Includes poems from NYC-Urbana features like Galway Kinnell, Jeff McDaniel, Taylor Mali, Alexis O'Hara, and John S. Hall. Also includes Celena Glenn's 2002 Urbana team piece that people are still singing to themselves.
| | | Name: Taylor Mali
Email:
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Homepage: www.taylormali.com
Venue Homepage: www.bowerypoetry.com Bio: Taylor Mali is arguably the most successful poetry slam strategist of all time, having lead six of his seven national teams to the finals stage and winning the championship itself a record four times before anyone had even tied him at three. But Taylor Mali is arguably a lot of things. Since putting his teaching career on hold, he has appeared on the first two seasons of HBO's Def Poetry Jam and won the jury prize for best one-man show at the U. S. Comedy Arts Festival. He lives and performs in New York City. National Teams:
1994 MAINE (6th place)
1995 MAINE (4th place)
1996 PROVIDENCE (National Champions)
1997 NYC-URBANA (National Champions)
1999 NYC-URBANA (45th place)
2000 NYC-URBANA (National Champions)
2002 NYC-URBANA (National Co-Champions) PSI Member Since: the very start Other Organizations:
National Scrabble Players' Association
Screen Actors Guild
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
National Council of Teachers of English
Past Performances:
- HBO's "Def Poetry Jam," New York City (2001, 2002)
- National Teachers of the Year Key Note Speaker, Huntsville, AL (2001, 2002)
- "Teacher! Teacher!" U. S. Comedy Arts Festival (2002)
- Opened for Allen Ginsberg's last public performance, New York City (1997) Has also performed for the following types of audiences:
NPS Finals Stage
Elementary School Students
Middle School Students
High School Students
College/University
Service Clubs/Churches
Conventions/Private Parties
Others Recurring Themes in Your Work:
Teaching, learning, speaking with conviction, moments of divine selflessness, good parenting, love, loss, family dogs that have never left your dreams, the woods, solitary work and the pleasure it brings, and most of all and above everything words and their power. Describe your most profound slam-related experience:
I once performed Patricia Smith's poem "Skinhead" at a poetry reading in Austin in 1998. If you don't know the poem, it's beautiful look into the mind of a person filled with hate and racist fear. She does the poem so well herself, but I always thought it was too easy for the audience to separate the persona from the performer. When I did the poem, a lot of people were squirming in their seats. Patricia Smith was there, herself, sitting right in front of me with a smile on her face that seemed to say "White boy got guts" and "You stupid idiot" all at once. |
Taylor Mali is arguably the most successful poetry slam strategist of all time, having lead six of his seven national teams to the finals stage and winning the championship itself a record four times before anyone had even tied him at three. But Taylor Mali is arguably a lot of things. Since putting his teaching career on hold, he has appeared on the first two seasons of HBO's Def Poetry Jam and won the jury prize for best one-man show at the U. S. Comedy Arts Festival. He lives and performs in New York City.
