Namaya is an internationally reknowned Jazz poet, storyteller, humorist and sublime improvisational artist. He has performed throughout the US and has toured in Europe, New Zealand, Japan, Asia, the Americas and Palmyra Syria.

Both as a solo artist, with his band the Jazz Beat Blues Poetry Ensemble, and with jazz musicians around the world, Namaya performs an astonishing blend of jazz word, story and improvisation.

Namaya is an irreverent performance artist with a trademark style of political satire and humor that addresses themes as diverse as America Uber Alles, the jazz noir detective story of Benny O’Shea, the poignant story of how to make a child to suicide bomber. The free rifting jazz improvisation bills Namaya as the high wire performance artist of the spoken word.

“Namaya held the audience in his hand as he fearlessly created a show of improvisation. It was like watching a magician on stage, but this time with words that would appear and disappear, and seamlessly bringing in the audience.” ~Magnet Theater in NYC,

Namaya has shared the stage with many jazz luminaries like Sheila Jordan, who appeared in his production of the Beatnik Café. Appearing in jazz clubs like No Black Tie in Malaysia, Ben’s Café in Tokyo, on tour throughout New Zealand and Australia.

“Loved the show it was a free wheeling journey of love and play that delighted the audience.” ~The Australian Center for Performing Arts

Other tours in Europe have taken him to Copenhagen, Amsterdam at the famed Winston – where audiences cheered his improvisation rifting with the band on quantum love and greasy fried chicken.

“We loved hearing his band with their marvelous invention of word and jazz.” ~The Apples and Snakes in London

Namaya is one of the most widely traveled performance poets with performances in Central and South America, and in Syria in 2011 shortly before the war in Allepo at Oscars and at the Palmyra Hotel. In Palestine he performed at the Alrowadd Theater. Namaya is a playwright and performance artist who has presented performances at Villa Grimaldi Peace Park in Santiago, Chile with Chilean performers.

“Namaya is a free spirit who often improvises his stories with a flare for the poetic.  He is at times intense and free wheeling.  A jazz poet who is lyric as well as insightful.  We have seen and heard him at storytelling events in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. He has told at the Florida Storytelling Festival and is a frequent teller at our monthly storytelling night for the Suncoast Storytellers.  A refreshing talent.” Walt Belcher – Storyteller

“We were so moved by Namaya and the B4 Peace Teams performance and presentation and we were so deeply touched. It was a memorable performance for all.” ~Tar Danza and Fraternidad Allyu,

Key Performance Credits

Bowery Poetry Club, NYC, NY.
Café Badcuyp, Amsterdam, Holland
Café Teatret, Copenhagen, Denmark
Colony Café, Woodstock, NY
Keene State College Café, NH
Marlboro College, Vt
PACE, Mass.
Rutgers University, NJ – Stand Against Racism
Hartford Jazz Series: Pork Pie Hat Series: Ct.
New England Youth Theater: Vt
Northampton Center for the Arts: MA.
Sanctuary Cella, Brighton, England
School for International Training, Vt
Vermont Celebrates Hayden Carruth. Vermont
Vermont Jazz Center, Vermont
Simons Rock College, Mass.
Winston, Amsterdam, Holland