And All That Jazz.

Goldfinch60



It started, as with much of my love of music,

With my Dad.

With him Swing was King

And the monarch was Benny Goodman.

This was my introduction

Of the world and wonder of Jazz.

 

From those early days I have listened

To many types of this music and loved them all.

The very early times of Bix and Jelly Roll

And of course ol’ Satchelmouth leading the way.

Though the thirties of the big bands

Basie, Ellington, Shaw and Miller;

Leading to the swing of the forties.

 

Then out of this came the sound that was bebop;

Bird and Dizzy in the lead, with this strange sound;

Alien noises to the establishment,

But became so wonderful to hear.

It changed the course of Jazz history.

The chromatic changes that weren’t thought possible,

Now becoming the sound, to which many flew.

 

Bebop mutated into so many varied type of Jazz.

It lead to the disaster that was ‘avant garde’.

A sound, to my mind, that just wasn’t music.

That Coltrane record I bought,

Put the needle anywhere on the disc,

The sound was just as bad.

I wonder if I could listen to it now,

With my more open minded view of music.

 

Cool Jazz given birth by Miles;

So harmonic, so soft, so mind-blowing.

This sound of mellow tones coming through my mind

And into my soul.

The beautiful sounds of Chet, Stan and Dave;

Pure melancholy, transporting me

To a world where all is calm and peaceful.

 

Trad, that sound that some decry,

But whenever it is played, all the feet tap.

Acker and Kenny leading the way

With this cheerful and foot tapping sound,

That can never fail to lift any depression

With its sound of unalloyed joy.

 

 

 

And then of course there was Oscar.

The man who can take me to places

That only exist in my dream of heaven.

This man who when he died

Took a piece of my life with him;

A man whose music was part of me,

And still is.

 

Jazz, the sounds that many can’t stand.

But to me, a world of such varying ways

Of contemplating the world of music ,

That has been with me all my life;

And is still there for me.

  • Author: Goldfinch60 (Pseudonym) (Offline Offline)
  • Published: May 9th, 2024 00:56
  • Comment from author about the poem: Jazz has been with me all my life.
  • Category: Reflection
  • Views: 31
  • User favorite of this poem: Accidental Poet.
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Comments9

  • orchidee

    A fine write Gold.

  • Neville



    and remember, it aint over till the fat lady sings .. 💛✔️

    • Goldfinch60

      Sorry that's opera Dave, but I like opera as well.

      Andy

      https://youtu.be/CNxglCrHzRU?si=240Zm15IKvMfna1N

    • 2781

      Reminded me of a line in some movie- I like both kinds of music..country and western!

      • Goldfinch60

        I like country and western, I have all albums by Johnny Cash.

        I often say to people that there are only two types of music, that which you like and that which you don't like.

        Andy

        • 2781

          I think it's one of the seven wonders

        • David Wakeling

          This is a masterpiece.A detailed look at all that Jazz.Loved it

          • Goldfinch60

            So kind David, that you.

            Andy

          • Cassie58

            My love of jazz came from my parents. I often went to Ronnie Scott’s with my Dad as a young woman and then followed on all night jazz sessions, finishing with breakfast, Barber, Bilk, Peterson Melly and Ball were household names. You should have seen my parents jive. It was a treat. Thank you for your jazz history and bringing lovely memories back this morning Andy. And I listened to the jazz too. Have a beautiful day.

            • Goldfinch60

              What a wonderful time you must have had Cassie, I go to a local Jazz Club every month and they get some great groups there.
              I used to play trumpet in a swing band so jazz is in my blood as is all kinds of music.

              Thank up.

              Andy

            • Accidental Poet

              I didn't listen to a lot of Jazz music. My first introduction to music was between the late 50s to the early 60s. The Beatles being the bulk of that. But I do remember and hold dear the music my parents listened to of the big band era in the 40s. I'm not sure how much Jazz my parents listened to, they probably did. Excellent write Andy. 😊👍🎼🎶🎵🎶

              • Goldfinch60

                There is so much jazz out there and so many different varieties it is well worth exploring AP.
                Thank you for your kind words.

                Andy

              • Teddy.15

                And all that jazz, such a type that some don't get it but those who do like me, find it's poetry in tune to some seriously beautiful musical instruments 🌹

                • Goldfinch60

                  So very true Teddy, thank you.

                  Andy

                • GenXer Shamrocker ☘️

                  Good work!

                  • Goldfinch60

                    Most kind GenXer, thank you.

                    Andy

                  • Thomas W Case

                    Tremendous work. I love jazz, especially Coltrane and Miles. You brought back so many memories. Thank you.

                    • Goldfinch60

                      Thank you Thomas, I have nearly all of Miles Davis albums.

                      Andy



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