Keith Jarrett

One of Val McDermid’s selected writers for the International Literature Showcase

“A poetry slam champion both in the UK and internationally.” – Val McDermid

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Cross-genre writer & performer; British and Caribbean history, sexuality, religion…

UK and Rio International Poetry Slam winner, Keith Jarrett is a PhD scholar at Birkbeck University, where he is completing his first novel. His play, Safest Spot in Town, was aired on BBC Four, and his book of poetry, Selah, was published in 2017.

“lyrically rich poems, charged with emotion, passion and lots of humour” – Sabotage

“clever, insightful, humorous and humbling… an excellent poet and one to watch” – Three Weeks

“articulate, erudite and well-informed… his beat reminiscent of Linton Kwesi Johnson and the dub poets of the eighties, of rap artists emergent since the nineties, and – of the most celebrated poets of the twentieth century.” – BroadwayBaby

“Keith Jarrett’s poems combine a rhetorical purposefulness with a smart and adventurous imagination” – Jack Underwood, on I Speak Home

“This new black British voice is relevant and necessary” – Malika Booker, on Selah

“I’m honoured to have been selected alongside such phenomenal writers!” – Keith Jarrett

Photos © Ajamu

Bibliography

Books/Pamphlets

2017 – Selah (Burning Eye) – poetry pamphlet/collection
2015 – I Speak Home (Eyewear) – poetry pamphlet
2013 – Hainault via Newbury Park and other broken tracks – pamphlet (longlisted for Polari First Book Award)

Significant contributions

2019 – ‘Poetry that Needs to Be Heard’, Creative Writing Coursebook (Macmillan) – essay
2018 – Filigree: Contemporary Black British Poetry (Peepal Tree Press) – poetry
2017 – ‘Safest Spot in Town’, Queers (BBC/Nick Hern Books) – play and film
2015 – ‘We Live in Hope and Die in Constant Spring’, Emerge: Lambda Literary Fellows Anthology (Lambda Literary) – fiction
2014 – ‘Meditations on Home’, Black & Gay in the UK (Team Angelica) – essay/memoir
2010 – ‘Listening Out for the Sea’, Boys & Girls (Glasshouse Books) – fiction

Biography

UK and International Poetry Slam winner, Keith has published two books of poetry and has been commissioned by the Royal Festival Hall, the British Museum, and Heritage England. With UK-wide performances, from arts institutions to the Houses of Parliament, his international work has included bilingual performances in Bilbao and Madrid, and British Council trips to Uganda and Brazil.
His play, Safest Spot in Town, was aired on BBC Four, and performed at the Old Vic in 2017. He is a regular contributor to BBC Radio, and a PhD scholar at Birkbeck University, where he is completing his first novel.

Val McDermid's ten exciting LGBTQI+ writers in the UK