Unity

Unity

I wanted
oh how I truly wanted
to do this little thing called
change the world

I thought about it much too
much it seemed to suffocate me
from doing anything of true importance

but sure this noble task was important
for it consumed me

I ignored my friends, ignored
my family, ignored my teachers,
ignored myself and my needs
with all my greed I pushed
everyone near to me away

I was headstrong

I was wrong

everything was in my head

change doesn't live in a
pent-up day dream

to change the world takes
guts takes class takes
time takes patience takes
community but also unity.

Houghton's Pond

Inspired by Woody Shaw's album Unity:

This post marks one year of writing a poem a day!

Joy spring

Joy spring

The cymbal crashes
bashes splashes flashes

the piano pings
dings stings zings

the bass plops
bops hops stops

with each new boom 
from the drum set of my heart
comes a bloom of flowers
of joy spring a new start.

Listen to Manhattan Transfer sing, "Joy Spring":

Manhattan Transfer at Scullers Jazz Club

Inspired by Manhattan Transfer at Scullers Jazz Club on August 27. 

Your smile

Your smile

I don't know what it
is, but your smile makes me
feel not so lonely.

Inspired by Sarah Vaughan singing, "The Shadow of Your Smile":

Quiet

Quiet

I just want quiet
I just want solitude I
just want peacefulness.

Listen to "Solitude" with Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong:

We get caught up

We get caught up

We get caught up in
all there is and all there
ever was

foggy eyed starry eyed
blank eyed dead eyed

I can't even look into
your eyes.

Wondering

Wondering

Sometimes I spend my
lonely nights wondering why
things broke easily.

Inspired by Louis Armstrong playing, "Stardust":

Out with the old

Out with the old

Out with the old
in with the new
people, places,
memories, shoes!

Listen to Frank Sinatra sing, "What are you doing the rest of your life?":

Yesterdays

Yesterdays

If I knew my dreams
predicted the future I
would trust yesterdays.

Inspired by Carmen McRae singing, "Yesterdays":

Bye

Bye

I'm tired of being
surrounded
by mediocracy and boredom
bye to the old days
of caring too much
hyper-sensitivity and
crying over spilled milk
hello to the new days
of being free being me
being who I'm meant to be.

Inspired by Thelonious Monk playing, "Bye-Ya":

I avoid group situations

I avoid group situations

I mold my own reality
pick the players in my play
for I can choose my own way.

I used to care

I used to care

I don't like being reminded
of how much I used to care
how much I used to laugh and
squeal whenever you were there.

Listen to Chet Baker play, "I Should Care":

That spark in your eyes

That spark in your eyes

That spark in your eyes
is what I lived for breathed for
stood on my knees for.

Insecurities

Insecurities

I wish that I could
cover insecurities
with a warm blanket.

Dreams scare me

Dreams scare me

Dreams scare me into

reality with people

places thing of past.

Listen to Sarah Vaughan & Count Basie Orchestra - "Darn That Dream":

I love so deeply

I love so deeply

I love so deeply
it hurts so I turn myself
numb to make life work.

Improvise

Improvise 

The elusive word
that conscious sound
that comes from nowhere
from under the ground
the fiery lava
that cool as ice
that sound so sweet
sound so nice
the way of life
that swinging beat
that brings me up
up on my feet
the kind of culture
that kind of art
so mysterious and tart
oh it makes me feel
feel like dancing
like cheering
like reflecting
like feeling
something above me
around me
through me
beneath me
inside of me
until is up and becomes me
Improvise.

Sean Jones and Rich Tennant

Watch Sean Jones go behind the scenes of im•pro•vise:

Inspired by seeing Sean Jones at the Rockport Jazz Festival on August 15th. 

I judge people

I judge people

I judge people
I come into a room and
I see the exterior
the gray walls the concrete
the metal poles and beams
and I say to myself
what a grim ugly thing
what a cold dim space
what a reserved boring time
but if I could sit there
just sit there
in that gray ugly space
and know how it feels
to stand firmly on its ground
to breath in the cold air
to let go of pretense
then maybe my mind would calm
and I'd realize that this room
has strength dignity bravery
beneath all of that
and I'd realize that this room
can be warm if you just
let it be what it is.

Superpowers

Superpowers

I wonder at times
if I had superpowers
if even then I could save you.

Summer

Summer

Summer sun
summer rain
memories come
and leave again.

Summer

Summer

The days go in and out
and what seemed like forever
is nearing its thoughtful end.

Listen to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong play, "Summertime":

When a heart breaks

When a heart breaks

When a heart breaks you
just have to think about your
strong lungs, head and soul.

I dream of islands

I dream of islands

I dream of islands
far away today and dream
of home sweet home now.

Elan Trotman

Listen to Elan Trotman play, "Funkalypso":

Inspired by Elan Trotman at the Springfield Jazz Festival August 8th.

Spinning Wheel

Spinning Wheel

As life goes round and
round I can't help but feel part
of a spinning wheel.

Dr. Lonnie Smith

Listen to Dr. Lonnie Smith play, "Spinning Wheel":

Inspired by Dr. Lonnie Smith at the Springfield Jazz Festival

Swing

Swing

Swing

it's the thing

that sets the night

fiery with light. 

Michel Camilo

Watch Michel Camilo play, "On Fire":

Inspired by Michel Camilo at the Newport Jazz Festival on August 2nd. 

They came

They came

What we all share in
common on this small little earth
is that I, you, her, him, we, they
came from another place
hoping, longing for a space
under the sun for everyone.

Arturo O'Farrill's Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra

Listen to Arturo O'Farrill's Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra play, "They Came":

Inspired by seeing Arturo O'Farrill's Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra at the Newport Jazz Festival August 2nd.

Home

Home

Home is where the heart
is where the music sings where
the body dances.

Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra 

Inspired by seeing the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra playing "Home" at the Newport Jazz Festival August 1st.

To get up there

To get up there

To get up there
to get up there with all your might
takes guts, gusto, heart for what's right.

Chris Botti

Listen to Chris Botti play, "Emmanuel":

Inspired by seeing Chris Botti at the Newport Jazz Festival July 31st.

Dance

Dance

Only dance can tell
you how your body moves, how
music flows through you.

Helen Sung

Watch Helen Sung play, "Armando's Rhumba":

Inspired by seeing the Helen Sung Quartet at the Newport Jazz Festival August 1st.

Roll call

Roll call

It's as if we walk
with ghosts shivering
down our spines gently
moving in the wind and
whispering us our dreams
as we roll call for those absent.

Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet

Listen to Ambrose Akinmusire:

Inspired by seeing the Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet at the Newport Jazz Festival on July 31st.

When I see those cats

When I see those cats

When I see those cats
I can't help but wanna bounce,
swing, scat, sway away.

Hiromi

Watch Hiromi play, "Place To Be":

Inspired by the Michel Camilo/Hiromi Piano Duets at the Newport Jazz Festival August 2nd.

Life creates more life

Life creates more life

Life creates more life
that's how it's always been and
will forever be.

Jack DeJohnette and Ashley Kahn

Listen to Jack DeJohnette play, "Homecoming":

Inspired by a "Miles At Newport" talk with Jack DeJohnette, Ashley Kahn and more!