(McKenzie reached great heights with Spiritus–a performance poetry trio, 1989-2002)
(Edmonton’s Jazz Poet)
(the best poetry ever recorded in Edmonton; top: Waxwings Creative, 2003 CD; cover: Brian Huffman; bottom: L.Q. Productions, 2000 CD)
Yorkton, SK-born Dean Morrison McKenzie (1940-2013) grew up in Hubbard and had long affiliations with the prairie railroad and Beat poetry. His work was influenced by Frost, Ginsberg, and Ferlinghetti and he gave many powerful readings, often with Spiritus and Edmonton jazz musicians like Lester Quitzau and Andrew Glover. Dean was a musician and painter as well as a long-time popular high school English teacher. One of the best contemporary poets writing in Canada, he and his work can be seen and heard online. Google “Skipping Stone Video” and “Night Benz”, both still on YouTube. (Edmonton’s Stroll of Poets also put up a webpage of his unique powerful poetry.)