Mingus on bass keeps the spontaneity.
The Duke on the keys sticks with the idioms.
Max Roach on drums, he is a deity.
The club is noisy, with the sounds of drinks and voices.
In a place called Birdland music’s always swinging.
Old Mingus introduces the band and gives the crowd their choices.
They must stay quiet, no chatting or glasses tingling.
The musicians play throughout the night,
The crowd can’t help but love it.
These three great jazz men are gone now,
But new jazz men claim the spotlight.
- Stephen Edwards
Explication:
This is a free verse poem written by me to honour the jazz musicians of the 1950's and 1960's. It describes three specific musicians and one specific jazz club, but it really honours all jazz and musical innovators, without whom modern music would not be what it is.
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