Gregory Corso: The Gold Standard

Tate Swindell, record producer and founder of Unrequited Records, will join George Scrivani in conversation about the stories behind the record.

This record was compiled from the recently discovered Scrivani Tapes. George Scrivani, Corso’s longtime friend, traveled with Gregory in the late 1970s throughout Europe. Having cut his bootlegging chops at various operas in Europe, Scrivani recorded Corso at various readings, interviews, and events. This included an impromptu lecture Corso gave at the JFK Institute, in Berlin, on the genealogy of the Beat Generation.

Upon returning stateside, Scrivani continued to record Corso in San Francisco, in the 1980s, at locations such as S.F. Art Institute, New College (r.i.p.) and the legendary Keystone Korner in the North Beach neighborhood.

The Keystone Korner tapes include a phenomenal reading with Allen Ginsberg in 1980. The two had not read together in San Francisco since 1956.
Another Keystone Korner tape features Jaki Byard on piano, the legendary multi-instrumentalist/composer/arranger, joins Corso for two extended poems. Also featured one track is local S.F. musician Phil Deal who has been a mainstay at various poetry events for decades.
Each side contains 27 minutes of unprecedented Corso material.

To bring the night full circle saxophonist Phil Deal will be in the house setting the tone for the evening.