Incantations in Jazz
Back in The Day
jam sessions were serious affairs
Jazz hinged on trust, ears, collaboration, and rotgut
Cat would stay
Play for no pay
‘Til break of day
Strayhorn charts in clouds of smoke or
off-the-top-of -your head bebop
Slammin duels or cozy duets
Soubrettes mimicked Ella, got laid
Torchettes dug deeper, got respect
Getz and Jobim brought bossa to the scene
Miles straight up in any incantation
Trane proclaiming A Love Supreme
but his lover was the needle, the ride
Recording sessions went straight to vinyl
Benny, Lionel, Slam – his high-pitched, mellow voice
doubling his bass lines, so fine, class, no sass
Basie showed Sinatra how to swing
(before the “ring-a-ding-ding”)
All live, driving, vibrant, vital
Women with ample curves strung like pearls
Billie moaning, Ella owning the scat, Bessie howling
Flat-out fine, no whine about the need for pay
Getting laid, getting high, getting by
by the grace of jazz, flowing like honey or
slappin you upside the head like a pissed-off date
He’d make love to her later
after the session cooled off, horns packed up.
Then everyone got down to real business
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For ABC Wednesday, brought to you by the letter “I”; Three Word Wednesday (Need, Hinge, Lethal); the open call at Real Toads, AND Trifecta’s word, “Ample.” Also at the place where I’m always jammin, Poets United.
This is the soil from which I spring. Call it a dangerous environment for a young girl, but I was right at home with the old cats, the ones who gave Art Tatum driving lessons (he was blind)… the ones who ruined their voices on bathtub gin and took up the drums to keep bread on the table. Imagine my luck, a little white girl who could sing blues, accepted by musicians of all colors and lifestyles! Peace, Amy
Sep 17, 2012 @ 23:48:56
Love this! You have captured the feel of jazz in your words!
Sep 18, 2012 @ 00:57:12
I like the poem itself, but enjoyed it even more after reading the last paragraph. How cool to be part of the jazz scene. It does sound like serious business (and trouble) indeed
Sep 18, 2012 @ 01:06:35
Ha …”kewl kat” *snapping fingers*
Sep 18, 2012 @ 01:36:12
Enjoyed your poem. Captured well the feeling of jazz. Lots of upsides and downsides to playing for no pay…. And thanks for posting the youtube video.
Sep 18, 2012 @ 05:11:24
pretty cool to visit the enviroment you grew up in…must have been def interesting being around all that…exciting and dangerous at times…smiles.
Sep 18, 2012 @ 05:42:53
I could picture this, Amy. You definitely brought those times to life! Neat that you were a part of them.
Sep 18, 2012 @ 07:17:02
Oh. My. I had to read this to my husband I loved it so much. And it was so fun to read!! It flowed like a great jazz song, a jam session–riffing words and rhythm. Amazing
Sep 18, 2012 @ 07:39:12
Slammed!
Fantastic! The poem with the music? Pefect.
Sep 18, 2012 @ 09:07:53
Reblogged this on shafiqah1 and commented:
Utterly perfect, we are in a like mood I see Ms. Sharp
Sep 18, 2012 @ 09:14:36
Your writings about music, performing, the entertainment arts never fail to carry me to the venue. I see the crowd, smell them too. Smoke wafts in the upstairs room melodies and dissonance pique my interest, make me think, as swaying hips brush against mine. You transport me, time and again; and I love it.
http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2012/09/17/10932/
Sep 18, 2012 @ 10:03:13
Oh my goodness, this is beyond words. Have you read Tyhimba Jess or Sonia Sanchez? Musical poetry, yeah!
Thanks for sharing this.
dk
Sep 18, 2012 @ 10:10:44
Nice. There is definitely a great lyrical quality to the words and flow. It captures the essence of the music well.
Sep 18, 2012 @ 10:27:01
Great post and word for I. Carver, ABC Wed. Team
Sep 18, 2012 @ 10:27:11
Thanks for a fascinating, inside peek.
Sep 18, 2012 @ 11:09:14
Oh kiddo, you so know it. This is the soil from which I sprang, too. My dad played in the big bands, and there reached a point in some especially wonderful nights, when the entire ballroom swayed with the beat. Peggy Lee sang with his band for a while. I longed to sing, but was too self conscious. You got up there and did it. Way to be!
Sep 18, 2012 @ 11:17:12
Love this! Great rhythm through the whole piece. This summer has definitely been a “summer of jazz” around here, my eleven year old discovered Ella and Louis and was hooked! Quite a fun read!
Sep 18, 2012 @ 13:04:06
you’ve described the era most accurately.Well done.
Sep 18, 2012 @ 14:45:01
wow…must have been terribly exciting to be right in the middle of the scene…meet all the people…sparkling…
Sep 18, 2012 @ 14:45:04
I love it when you get on a roll, Amy. So much music in this one – in many senses. And the joy of art above money – making music because you just have to do it, come what may. I love the thought of Art Tatum driving lessons – just glad I wasn’t in the car!
Sep 18, 2012 @ 14:46:05
I could hear it as I read and the smirk on my face grew in delight. Perfect. Beautiful.
Sep 18, 2012 @ 15:44:50
Great atmosphere; I’m jealous of anyone who got to be part of that scene!
Sep 18, 2012 @ 16:17:18
As I was reading this I was struck by how the words play just like music and how well you know the artists and the scene. Thanks for including the short bio of explanation. This piece is just lovely.
Sep 18, 2012 @ 16:17:48
Ample curves strung like pearls. Love this.
Sep 18, 2012 @ 16:48:17
I know very little of jazz ! and most of it is from a friend who looves it .. this made me think of him
wonderfully narrated !
Sep 18, 2012 @ 18:05:43
You are one VERY cook and smart cookie!
Sep 18, 2012 @ 18:07:57
Loved this, makes me want to reach for my jazz cds
Sep 18, 2012 @ 20:22:18
this is great Amy, would die for something like this to be around here (not going to happen in redneckville) my playlist defines eclectic: miles davis, charlie parker, sinatra, bobby darrin, u2, jimmy buffet, eric church…you name it I pretty much like it. but do love the old jazz and blues.
Sep 18, 2012 @ 21:24:07
I love listening to live jazz music. This si great, Amy.
http://lkkolp.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/forgotten-by-the-tooth-fairy/
Sep 18, 2012 @ 22:36:59
Oh the things you must have learned! I love the easy and relaxed feel of your poem.
Sep 18, 2012 @ 23:29:31
That’s a whole lot of jazz and you were right in the middle of it. How rich an environment to go through growing up. Thanks for sharing Amy!
Hank
Sep 19, 2012 @ 07:03:26
What great atmosphere…also a gallery of sorts. I can picture (and hear) these artists. Fine job, Amy.
Sep 19, 2012 @ 08:39:35
Scat! Yeah baby! Ella Fitzgerald was indeed the Queen! But if so, then Mel Tourme was king! Man what wonderufl music. How can it not pick you up?
Sep 19, 2012 @ 12:42:58
A lesson in American music and life, taught through the genius and lives of these icons. Very well-crafted and thoughtful, Amy!
Sep 19, 2012 @ 17:18:47
Oh, a fine evocation of when jazz was the underground music and the kings and queens ruled. And so good to hear those two great pathfinders, Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. Without them everything would sound so very different now.
Sep 19, 2012 @ 20:36:55
I love the rhythm of this and how you tell the story! I can tell you are a musician. It’s like you are jammin’, only just using words.
Sep 19, 2012 @ 20:52:49
Lots of prompts and all done well, which is especially cool because I love jazz. Was the Miles Davis / Incantation line a nice hint at “Bitches Brew”? If it was, I tip my hat to you, sir. Well done.
Sep 19, 2012 @ 22:46:26
Now that;s Jazz! You have excelled yourself, Amy.
ViVx
Sep 20, 2012 @ 00:58:51
Im sure I commented oh well try again… love the tunes spat out in the minor key
Sep 20, 2012 @ 04:02:49
lessee – I tried to comment a couple days back, but it kept thinking about it. By now, you know my J post is for Jazz.
Sep 20, 2012 @ 18:15:03
I couldn’t begin to point out the elements I enjoyed here.
You took us into every cramped noisy club, sat us in a sprung cushioned corner seat to see it all, live it all for a moment.
You made us hip.
Brilliantly done.
Sep 20, 2012 @ 19:43:55
This feels like jazz. I love the phrase hinged on trust. Thanks for sharing this with us. Hope to see you back tomorrow.
Sep 21, 2012 @ 05:46:19
Smoothly juxtaposed with your life experiences…a tribute to the players and the bystanders♫♪
Sep 21, 2012 @ 11:24:33
What a rhythm you have here. And thank you for introducing me to this poetic genre.
Congratulations for having one of the best entries this week.
~Imelda
Sep 21, 2012 @ 17:20:51
I love jazz.
Congrats on your second place finish, Amy.
Oh, and these lines made me smile. They sort of came out and slapped me
by the grace of jazz, flowing like honey or
slappin you upside the head like a pissed-off date