With New Album, Poet Brian Turner Pens Electro-Acoustic Ode To His Late Wife

Brian Turner is perhaps best known in Central California, and across the country as a poet whose art has been fused in a time of war. Author of the acclaimed collection Here, Bullet, Turner is one of the many literary giants to come from the San Joaquin Valley. Yet with his new project, he has turned his focus in two different directions: first in pursuing his musical visions, and second to showcasing the poetry of his late wife Ilyse Kusnetz. The recording draws its name, 11 11 (Me, Smiling) from one of her poems. Turner joined us on Valley Edition to talk about his group The Interplanetary Acoustic Team, and how he hopes this music will help keep his wife's memory alive.