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
Sharp Little Pencil 
Susie Clevenger (@wingsobutterfly)
Love this! You have captured the feel of jazz in your words!
jannatwrites
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 🙂
Adrian Giannini
Ha …”kewl kat” *snapping fingers*
unevenstevencu
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.
brian miller
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.
Mary
I could picture this, Amy. You definitely brought those times to life! Neat that you were a part of them.
SaraV
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 🙂
El Guapo
Slammed!
Fantastic! The poem with the music? Pefect.
shafiqah1
Reblogged this on shafiqah1 and commented:
Utterly perfect, we are in a like mood I see Ms. Sharp 😉
Kim Nelson
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/
dk
Oh my goodness, this is beyond words. Have you read Tyhimba Jess or Sonia Sanchez? Musical poetry, yeah!
Thanks for sharing this.
dk
Wisper
Nice. There is definitely a great lyrical quality to the words and flow. It captures the essence of the music well.
Carver
Great post and word for I. Carver, ABC Wed. Team
margaretbednar
Thanks for a fascinating, inside peek.
Sherry Blue Sky
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!
Mary Mansfield
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!
Sheilagh Lee
you’ve described the era most accurately.Well done.
claudia
wow…must have been terribly exciting to be right in the middle of the scene…meet all the people…sparkling…
Andrew Kreider
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!
Jen
I could hear it as I read and the smirk on my face grew in delight. Perfect. Beautiful.
Annabelle
Great atmosphere; I’m jealous of anyone who got to be part of that scene!
Annette Mickelson
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.
Kelly Garriott Waite (@kgwaite)
Ample curves strung like pearls. Love this.
ladynimue
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 !
Daydreamertoo
You are one VERY cook and smart cookie! 😉
Kim or Lisa
Loved this, makes me want to reach for my jazz cds
markwindham
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.
Laurie Kolp
I love listening to live jazz music. This si great, Amy.
http://lkkolp.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/forgotten-by-the-tooth-fairy/
danadampier
Oh the things you must have learned! I love the easy and relaxed feel of your poem.
kaykuala
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
Steve King
What great atmosphere…also a gallery of sorts. I can picture (and hear) these artists. Fine job, Amy.
johnallenrichter
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?
Joseph Hesch
A lesson in American music and life, taught through the genius and lives of these icons. Very well-crafted and thoughtful, Amy!
Dick Jones
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.
lumdog
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.
Brian Benoit
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.
vivinfrance
Now that;s Jazz! You have excelled yourself, Amy.
ViVx
Adrian Giannini
Im sure I commented oh well try again… love the tunes spat out in the minor key
Roger Green
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.
braintomahawk
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.
Trifecta (@trifectawriting)
This feels like jazz. I love the phrase hinged on trust. Thanks for sharing this with us. Hope to see you back tomorrow.
lmkazmierczak
Smoothly juxtaposed with your life experiences…a tribute to the players and the bystanders♫♪
Imelda
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
Linda H.
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
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