What started as a jazz project between two Fresno State colleagues has earned the respect of Downbeat Magazine readers who rank “The Poetry of Jazz” the No. 3 Jazz Album of the Year in the 2018 Readers Poll. The poll results appeared in the December 2018 issue and praised the performance of Pulitzer-winning poet laureate and former Fresno State professor Philip Levine and Fresno State professor of music Dr. Benjamin Boone.

“I am just so pleased that this labor of love and this Fresno-based project has resonated with listeners. It couldn’t have happened without the support and participation of so many people, including the College of Arts and Humanities Dean’s Council and Fresno State Research and Creative Activities grants, who provided release time and financial support,” Boone said.

A continuation of the album, “The Poetry of Volume Two” will be released in January 2019.

Visit the College of Arts and Humanities blog to read more.