A Few Poems and an Upright Bass: Tim Seibles and Chris Brydge Kick Off TCC Lit Fest 2025 in Norfolk!

Image provided by Michael Khandelwal

On April 2, 2025, in the Visual Arts and Design Center of Tidewater Community College, in downtown Norfolk, VA., I had the privilege of attending a poetry reading by the highly accomplished wordsmith and former Poet Laureate of Virginia, Mr. Tim Seibles, which also featured renowned musician Chris Brydge. Tidewater Community College and The Muse Writers Center sponsored this reading, as a part of TCC's Literary Festival. 

I waved to Michael Khandelwal, the founder of The Muse Writers Center, as I entered the perfectly lit space, noticing the lectern, microphone, and an upright bass. He walked over to me, and I said, “Where’s Tim?” “He’s in the back,” he said. I assumed they were preparing for tonight’s performance. So, I turned my attention to the various sandwiches and cookies that populated the table by the entrance. I had been sipping lukewarm coffee from a nondescript blue paper cup for most of the afternoon. I decided to pass on the food and found a seat. I waited for Mr. Seibles to enter the room, hoping to talk with him before he made his way to the lectern. Chris Brydge quickly walked to the front of the room and made some adjustments, so I knew Mr. Seibles could not be far behind. I recognized Mr. Brydge from the promotional materials for the CD Something Like We Did, which dropped last year, a collaboration between him and Tim Seibles. In Veer Magazine, Tom Robotham wrote a thorough review entitled The Poem Wants to Be Heard. 

So, I located Tim near the back of the room, dressed in a sharp, blue sweater, black slacks, and a black fedora. He is probably the coolest poet I know. Last week, he told me he was playing TCC in Norfolk. So, I assumed he was referring to the Roper Performing Arts Center, which is on Granby Street. I assumed Mr. Seibles was scheduled to be there. When I asked him about it, he said, “Oh, no! I haven’t risen to that level.” I said, “I saw Walter Mosley at the Roper years ago. I consider you on that level.” We laughed and talked for a few minutes, catching up as we always do. After that quick conversation with him, I found my seat, allowing him to have that time and space to process the moment. I literally started the conversation with him just a few moments prior to showtime.  

Now, imagine this scene. 

After the introductions, Tim Seibles began to manipulate the space with words. Jazz-like. Poetry lovers hung on every phrase, description, theme, and metaphor. With a few more lines, the audience began to spin in the center of his palm. Some audience members closed their eyes, allowing the words to create images in their minds. Other audience members rocked, swayed, and swooned. A few attendees blushed, as the former Poet Laureate of Virginia (2016-2018) stacked provocative phrases, like Miles Davis, blowing his trumpet across an arrangement from his electric period.   

Chris Brydge plucked the strings of his upright bass, finding his groove, and adding his signature sound to the evening. This duo was well-rehearsed. Seibles’s voice began the familiar dance of weaving poetic lines, carefully skating on sound waves, sensations, and rhythms. He knew how to command a crowd. In rare form, Mr. Seibles and Chris Brydge entertained the audience with a high-level mix of poetry and live music.  

Image provided by Michael Khandelwal

I started thinking about poetry's natural ability to reshape an entire room. When you are sharing a space with Tim Seibles, you are guaranteed to be moved by his poems, his stories, his natural charisma, and the joy he gets from reading his poems. Add Chris Brydge on an upright bass, and you create a uniquely jazzy atmosphere. 

Hampton Roads, VA., has always been an active area for poetry and spoken word. I remember navigating the 7 cities in the early 2000s. You could find an open mic or a poetry reading almost every night of the week. Whether you were into traditional page poets, highly engaging stage poets, or a mixture of both, the scene, at that time, had something for everybody. 

So, I tip my hat to TCC for keeping the literary culture going in the area, especially in these early days of National Poetry Month. Tim Seibles and Chris Brydge definitely delivered a sultry set of poetry and live music that will be hard to top for the next twenty-five days.