The Squid's Ear Magazine
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Lyle, K. Curtis / Alex Cunningham

Quantum Nursery Rhymes Of The Divine Horseman

Lyle, K. Curtis / Alex Cunningham: Quantum Nursery Rhymes Of The Divine Horseman (Storm Cellar)

Poet K. Curtis Lyle, a founding member of the Watts Writers Workshop and longtime Julius Hemphill collaborator, joins St. Louis violinist Alex Cunningham for two extended improvisations intertwining expressive spoken-word poetry with restless violin textures, fractured melodies, and free-form interplay, creating a dynamic dialogue between language and sound; includes a 10-panel booklet of Lyle's poetry.
 

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Product Information:

Personnel:



K. Curtis Lyle-voice, poetry

Alex Cunningham-violin

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Includes a 10-panel, double-sided accordion booklet containing the complete texts of Lyle's poetry.

Label: Storm Cellar
Catalog ID: SC008
Squidco Product Code: 38043

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2025
Country: USA
Packaging: Digipack w/booklet
Recorded at Bird Cloud Recording, by Ryan Wasoba.
Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

Artist Biographies

"K. Curtis Lyle was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He was a founding member of the Watts Writers Workshop, joining it in 1966 and becoming a prominent member of the Los Angeles renaissance that the group represented. He has taught, lectured and read his poetry in performance in the major intellectual and urban centers of North America.

Lyle has published widely over the years and been anthologized in the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe. Lyle's work has been widely adapted to music, especially to jazz. He built a performing and recording relationship with the late world renowned saxophonist and composer Julius Hemphill (1938-1995). The text of Lyle's poem, "Drunk on God", was recorded for Julius Hemphill's Big band (Electra/Asylum).

In June 2003, Lyle published a work of selected poetry entitled, Electric Church. In February of 2008 he published a long prose poem, "The Epileptic Camel Driver Speaks to a Refugee Death" (Firecracker Press). In November 2008, St. Louis Poetry Scores and Firecracker Press published a new work entitled, "Nailed Seraphim".

He currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri."

-Rustbelt Artist Belt IV (https://rustbelttoartistbelt.racstl.org/speakers/k-curtis-lyle-2/index.html)
10/21/2026

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Alex Cunningham is a violinist, improviser, and visual artist based in St. Louis, MO. His work explores free improvisation, drone, noise, and minimalist composition. Cunningham has recently performed with Mark Shippy, Sandy Ewen, Damon Smith, Stefan Gonzalez, and Lisa Cameron and has ongoing collaborations with Chris Trull (under the Apathist! moniker), Kevin Harris, and Claire Rousay. Past collaborations include the groups Vernacular String Trio, Hess/Cunningham Duo, and Hardbody. Cunningham has released music on Close/Far Recordings, Personal Archives, Already Dead Tapes and Records, Fort Evil Fruit, and Astral Spirits.

Cunningham's collage work has appeared on various album covers and concert posters. He was named St. Louis' "Best Concert Poster Designer" by the Riverfront Times in 2015. His visual work has shown at Hoffman LaChance Contemporary, Resident Arts, Blank Space, and the Thomas Dunn Learning Center and has been featured on bus stops in St. Louis as part of St. Louis Metro's "Arts in Transit" initiative. "

-Alex Cunningham Website (https://www.alexcunninghamviolin.com/about)
10/21/2026

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:
Related Categories of Interest:

October 2026
Improvised Music
Chamber Jazz
Stringed Instruments
Spoken Word
Duo Recordings
New in Improvised Music
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