James Heflin is a writer and guitarist. His book of poems, Krakatoa Picnic, will be released in spring 2017. He’s received two Massachusetts Cultural Council grants for poetry, and is completing a science fiction novel. He was an editor at the Valley Advocate for many years. He’s played in Western Massachusetts Gypsy jazz, strange rock, and rockabilly bands, including Wood Green Empire, Metropolitan Swing Quartet, The Mud Prophets and The Econoline Kings. A long time ago, he started an untraditional Irish group in Texas called Tir Na Nog, in which he played with accordionist Matthew Duncan. Heflin and Duncan are reuniting for Waywords and Meansigns. Their guitar and piano-based collaboration is neither traditional nor Irish.
Matthew Duncan is on his third career. After being a musician and circus artist, he now teaches high school English. He is the founder of a small music festival – Good Music Makes Good Neighbors – and the recipient of the Golden Nose Award for clowning. He has performed off-Broadway, on cruise ships, and in festivals around the world. Currently he enjoys listening to Paul Hindemith and contemporary Dutch jazz. In addition to Joyce, his literary heroes include Borges, Calvino, Cervantes, and the modernist poets.
Matthew Duncan and James Heflin contributed to the Opendoor Edition of Waywords and Meansigns in 2017, recording chapter four, page 75 through page 103.
Credits — Matthew Duncan: voice #1, piano, drums, bass, clarinet; James Heflin: voice #2, guitar, drums; Nicole Nemec: horns.