we are young

we are young

as sounds emerge and change and morph
we are young
we are young.

Moments

Moments

Moments upon moments upon
moments galore
what separates each moment
from each second or more?

Inspired by Oliver Nelson playing, "Stolen Moments".

Identity

Identity 

Identity makes
up who we are and molds us
as human beings.

My sketch of Miguel Zenon

Inspired by Miguel Zenon playing, "Identities are Changeable".

Rainy day

Rainy day

As I look outside
the glass seems too thick
the rainy day consumes all.

Inspired by Jim Hall and Paul Desmond playing, "Here's That Rainy Day".

Village

Village

They say it takes an
entire village to raise
a child and it's true.

My sketch of Elvin Jones

Inspired by Elvin Jones playing, "Village Dreams".

A time

A time

There comes a time that
all those little melodies
form symphonies too.

My sketch of Tony Williams

Inspired by Tony Williams playing, "There Comes a Time".

Angels

Angels

I never did believe
that angels do exist
until I heard a sound so
new so pure so black so
blue so full of brightness so
dark and full and rich and so
sincere it seemed to hit me
I never did believe
that angels do exist
until I heard that bell
and it all came true.

My sketch of Tommy Flanagan

Inspired by Tommy Flanagan playing, "Angel Eyes".

Shadows

Shadows

Shadows always seem
to disguise themselves under
all that shines so bright.

My sketch of Ron Carter

Inspired by Ron Carter playing, "The Shadow Of Your Smile".

Passion

Passion

Passion is what makes
the sun rise and fall the stars
cascade above us.

My sketch of McCoy Tyner

Inspired by McCoy Tyner playing, "Passion Dance".

World

World

To travel the world
to travel the world and see
such amazing sights.

My sketch of Bobby McFerrin

Inspired by Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea playing, "Spain".

Pocket

Pocket

When you just feel a
groove so good so low so fine
it's in the pocket.

My sketch of Count Basie

Inspired by Count Basie playing, "Corner Pocket".

Highway rider

Highway rider

To clear my mind I
drive and drive and drive and drive
a highway rider.

My sketch of Brad Mehldau

Inspired by Brad Mehldau playing, "Highway Rider".

Star eyes

Star eyes

Stars seem too far away
for me to ever say
what they really mean
but when I really think
why they ever do blink
I know they're star eyes
cascading from you.

My sketch of Charlie Parker

Inspired by Charlie Parker playing, "Star Eyes".

Dreamed

Dreamed

Something I dreamed last
night came alive suddenly
out of the blue then
I blinked to find it was you.

My sketch of Miles Davis

Inspired by Miles Davis playing, "Something I Dreamed Last Night".

Wait

Wait

A trill two measures early
a bend two measures late
rushing ahead never to wait.

You

You

You you and only
you would have to realize it
could happen to you.

My sketch of Miles Davis

Inspired by Miles Davis playing, "It Could Happen to You".

I remember you

I remember you

For all that I have
forgotten over the years
I remember you.

My sketch of Dave Brubeck

Inspired by Dave Brubeck playing, "I Remember You".

Central

Central

When I look out the window
and clouds seem to flutter in the air
my heart skips a beat: without a care
summer in central park, and you are there.

My sketch of Horace Silver

Inspired by Horace Silver playing, "Summer in Central Park".

Wishes

Wishes

I wish it lasted
I really wish it did
but at the end of the day
you had to wish it too
and no star can ever
really do that for you.

Inspired by Keith Jarrett playing, "When You Wish Upon A Star". 

Living life

Living life

Living life
is but a wonder
but a wonder to me
living life
is such a splendor
such a splendor for us

Just one day you
called my name
just one day
I was to blame
because I yes I
yes you and I are now one

Living life
is but a wonder
but a wonder to me
living life
is for no other
than for you and me.

Nightmares

Nightmares

I wake up with new nightmares
every third or fourth day
I scatter over gilded housewares
tripping on strings, puppets in play

I tumble, mumble, grumble
and scream. Oh my - a shadow!
A ghost! A monster! then to fumble,
tremble, grumble in whoa.

Time

Time

When a beat comes in
time seems to stop
and the booms and crashes
vanish each hour minute second
and everything becomes then and now
yes, when time comes it vanishes.

Inspired by Roy Haynes.

Spring

Spring

When I think of you
it might as well be spring
for I see roses blooming
in the snow.

My sketch of Rebecca Parris

Inspired by Rebecca Parris singing, "It Might as Well Be Spring" at the Regent Theater on March 7th.

Dreaming of autumn

Dreaming of autumn 

Oh how I so miss
the cool air leaves toppling down
dreaming of autumn.

My sketch of Jaleel Shaw

Inspired by Jaleel Shaw playing "Autumn Leaves" with the Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band at Scullers on March 6th.

Drums

Drums

If I could play a melody

with a sparkling kind of tone

if I could play a melody

filled with the brightest of any drone

I wouldn't play the saxophone

with all its oohs and ahhs

I wouldn't play the upright bass

with all its da ba das

I wouldn't play the trumpet

with all its wailing coos

I wouldn't play the piano

with all its bangs and boos

If I could play a melody

filled with the brightest of any drone

I would need time on my side

yes, time perched on a golden throne

Oh if I could play a melody
with a sparkling kind of tone

I would play the drums

with all its splangs and splots 

stop time...dot dot dot
with all its crashes and collisions
whams bams booms sizzles
with all its zzz zaps za zooms
spinkles splashes drizzles
with all its doo bops
doo waas doo dopety doo ops

for an hour minute second moment

whoosh 

whoosh 

whoosh

for an hour minute second moment

silence.

My sketch of Roy Hanes

Inspired by Roy Haynes playing at Scullers on March 6th.

Shadows

Shadows

Shadows sift across
the air the sky oh why oh
why do shadows lie?

My sketch of Bob Gullotti and Antonio Sanchez

Up

Up

Up down up
down up down
up down up
a
 c
  r
   o
    s
     s

My sketch of John Lockwood

Free

Free

What does it mean to play free?
What does it mean for democracy?

My sketch of George Garzone

Lend me a dream

Lend me a dream

Lend me a dream
for when I am awake
so I can hear an entire symphony
while sitting in silence.

My sketch of Jerry Bergonzi and Phil Grenadier

Concert

Concert

Clap clap
tap tap
rhythms of concerts
images of now.

My sketch of Kenny Werner

Father

Father

Shooting stars seemed to
align and compose this: a
song for my father.

My sketch of Horace Silver

Inspired by Horace Silver playing, "Song for My Father".