@cal body 1 no indent:At tonight’s Funk Jazz Lounge, you may hear the next Marvin Gaye, Norah Jones, or Danity Kane. “It’s the difference between old-school crooners and new-school blues,” says organizer Noah Williams. The open-mic night welcomes local musicians and poets every Friday and Saturday at the B-5, and includes an eclectic set of hip-hop, R&B, jazz, and reggaeton tunes. In between sets, Vince Robinson & His Band and O.S.P. (Old School Players) swap turns onstage. At 11 p.m., funk DJ Pocahontas takes over the turntables.

@cal body 1:While all creative types are welcome, slam poets are especially in demand, since their hip-hop-style spoken-word pieces connect the past and the present. “Poetry is the gateway between hip-hop, rhythm and blues, and what’s happening now with the alternative-music scene,” says Williams. “Poets use the medium to express their thoughts and feelings.” He points to early hip-hoppers like the Sugar Hill Gang, who retained many traditional poetic elements in their cuts. “All of that is tied to the shared music and social consciousness,” he says.
Fridays, Saturdays, 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m., 2006

This article appears in Nov 29 – Dec 5, 2006.