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) - Published: December 27th, 2024 01:59
- Comment from author about the poem: The video of Oscar Peterson showed him and his trio in 1969, the year that I saw him live. A great evening that I can still remember.
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 18
- Users favorite of this poem: GenXer Shamrocker ☘️
Offline)
Comments8
Fabulous reflection and fabulous music. 🌹
Fabulous music, so true Teddy, thank you.
Andy
A fine write Gold.
Thanks Orchi.
What an amazing tribute to an incredible form of music.Enjoyed reading
Much appreciated David, thank you.
Andy
A beautiful tribute to a music style that I love parts of and hate parts of. Anything that can bring out such opposing feelings is truly art in my mind. Lovely
Very true soren, I love many types of music, classical and jazz being the forerunners but as I say to people there are only two types of music, that which you like and that which you don't.
Andy
What’s not to like? I aLways wondered. But then choice is something to reckon with at each turn it seems. Thanks for sharing Andy 🙏🏻
Thank you for your comment arqios, much appreciated.
Andy
Your welcome Andy 🙏🏻
An awesome poem
of jazz bands of the past!! 😎👍
Mem'ries shared that
will forever last! 🎺🎷 🎵 🎶🎶
Terrific read indeed!! 👍
Best regards ✌️ Thad
Thank you Thad, so true.
Andy
Excellent write Andy
Most kind Tony, thank you.
Andy
You're welcome Andy
Superb.
Thank you Thomas.
Andy
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