Food

Food

Music is food for
the soul and social justice
for society.

My sketch of Dexter Gordon

Inspired by Dexter Gordon playing, "Fried Bananas".

Glad

Glad 

With a kernel of
truth I must admit I'm glad
to be unhappy.

My sketch of Paul Desmond

Inspired by Paul Desmond playing, "Glad to be Unhappy".

Together

Together

When I feel alone
I picture those happy days
alone together.

My sketch of Grant Green

Inspired by Grant Green playing, "Alone Together".

Sometime ago

Sometime ago

Sometime ago
when I was a bit more naive
I used to believe that
forever lasted

but the real forevers last in moments
moments lived
sometime ago.

My sketch of Bob Brookmeyer

Inspired by Bob Brookmeyer playing, "Sometime Ago".

Happy people

Happy people

What a sound oh
what a sound
for it lifts the ground
and makes us found.

My sketch of Kenny Garrett

Inspired by Kenny Garrett playing, "Happy People".

Another you

Another you

When I look around
and realize there will never
be another you.

My sketch of Woody Shaw

Inspired by Woody Shaw playing, "There Will Never Be Another You".

Mumbles

Mumbles

If you're ever on the wrong
side of the street and nothing
seems to bring you solace
just look to the sky and
clouds will wave good bye.

My sketch of Clark Terry

RIP "Mumbles", Clark Terry. Listen to the Clark Terry Quintet: "Live in Chicago".

Circle

Circle

         C   I     R
     .                     C
    E                        L
     L                      E
       C                C
            R       I

My sketch of Miles Davis

Inspired by the Miles Davis playing, "Circle".

In the sky

In the sky

In the sky
oh in the sky
we will fly
yes we will fly
so very very high
so high we will
fly above the sky
and reach our home.

My sketch of Roland Kirk

Inspired by Rahsaan Roland Kirk playing, "Cabin in the Sky".

Gentle

Gentle

Gentle words spoken
gentle thoughts shared gentle love
given gently back.

My sketch of Art Farmer

Inspired by Art Farmer playing, "Gentle Rain".

Whisper

Whisper

Whisper holler yell
scream croak chuckle snort whinny
cackle whisper not.

My sketch of Benny Golson

Inspired by Benny Golson playing, "Whisper Not".

Along

Along

Along and along and
along you came
steps away
miles away
centuries away
along and along and
along you came
centuries away
miles away
steps away.

My sketch of Lee Morgan

Inspired by Lee Morgan's solo in Art Blakey's song, "Along Came Betty".

Moonlight

Moonlight

Moonlight cascading,
stars encapsulating, and
moonlight in Vermont.

My sketch of Sarah Vaughan

Inspired by Sarah Vaughan singing with the Count Basie Orchestra: "Moonlight in Vermont".

Honey

Honey

Sweets may come my way
But they don't compare to my
honeysuckle rose.

My sketch of Erroll Garner

Inspired by Erroll Garner playing, "Honeysuckle Rose".

I love you

I love you

Every day I'm so
grateful to say you are mine
and I am yours too.

My sketch of John Coltrane

Inspired by John Coltrane playing, "I Love You". Happy Valentine's Day!

Every time

Every time

I can hear it in your voice
I can see it in your step
a sort of croak sneaks by
every time we say good bye

My sketch of Betty Carter

Inspired by Ray Charles and Betty Carter singing, "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye".

Losing you

Losing you

When I walk and get a bit
too lost and I realize what's gone
can't be recovered in the lost and found.

My sketch of Hank Mobley

Inspired by Hank Mobley playing, "If I Should Lose You".

Indigo

Indigo

A color dreary
a pang of blue a pang of
reminiscing too.

My sketch of Duke Ellington

Inspired by Duke Ellington playing, "Mood Indigo".

Just in time

Just in time

Just in time
just in time
everything seemed to
pick up clouds parted
from the sky
just in time
just in time
the dark days are
over the golden
path is reopened
just in time
just in time
my belief in you
became a reality
just in time.

My sketch of Nina Simone

Inspired by Nina Simone playing, "Just in Time".

Misty

Misty

And as the snow falls
the angels flutter out and
make the air misty.

My sketch of Erroll Garner

Inspired by Erroll Garner playing, "Misty".

The festival

The festival

The festival 

comes through town

yet once a year

the festival 

comes through town

to spread much cheer

I see the lights! the confetti!

people's faces bright with laughter!

and while memories

dimly burn into our minds

the festival

comes through town

yet once a year

and nothing is so grand

than when it is near. 

My sketch of Chick Corea

Inspired by Chick Corea playing, "La Fiesta". 

Beat

Beat

There is nothing so sweet
than to hear a beat
yes a beat come
rattling through
a beat so sweet
so terribly neat
that concrete seems
weak at its knees.

My sketch of Cécile McLorin Salvant

My sketch of the Christian McBride Trio

Inspired by Cécile McLorin Salvant and the Christian McBride Trio's magical performance at Sanders Theater on February 6th. 

It could happen

It could happen

It could happen just
all at once wondrously out
of control you know.

My sketch of Kenny Dorham

Inspired by Kenny Dorham playing, "It Could Happen to You".

I should care

I should care

Doo ba da doo
ba da
doo bee da dee
da da doo
ba da da dee
ba da da da

I should care
I should be a
wreck

Doo ba da doo
ba da
doo bee da dee
da da doo
ba da da dee
ba da da da

I should care
but maybe
just maybe
not.

My sketch of Frank Sinatra

Inspired by Frank Sinatra singing, "I Should Care".

Four

Four

Four family
four seasons
for family.

My sketch of Woody Herman

Inspired by Woody Herman playing, "Four Brothers".

Moonlight

Moonlight

Moonlight
sunlight
daylight
nightlife
moonlight
shining all so
illuminating all so.

My sketch of Glenn Miller

Inspired by Glenn Miller playing, "Moonlight Serenade".

River

River

River up
and river down
river flowing through
river up
and river down
river diving blue.

My sketch of Archie Shepp

Inspired by Archie Shepp playing, "Cry Me a River".

Master plan

Master plan

The creator brings
light love happiness and joy
with the master plan

Pharoah Sanders

Inspired by Pharoah Sanders playing, "The Creator Has a Master Plan".