Langston Hughes / Ornette Coleman (was Jazz, again)

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

>I cannot pretend to understand the nature of being black in America, or the
>connection that jazz would have to your soul in that culture. But I do know
>that connection wasn't severed 40 years ago when Miles recorded Kind of Blue
>or Ornette Coleman recorded The Shape of Jazz to Come.
>
>There, I feel better now.
>
>PC
>N Paul Childs
>This address or <npchilds at hotmail.com>

*****   "Jazztet Muted"

In the Negroes of the quarter			_Bop_
Pressure of the blood is slightly higher	_blues_
In the quarter of the Negroes			_into_
Where black shadows move like shadows		_very_
Cut from shadows cut from shade			_modern_
In the quarter of the Negroes			_jazz_
Suddenly catching fire				_burning_

 From the wing tip of a match tip		_the_
On the breath of Ornette Coleman.		_air_

						_eerie_
In neon tombs the music				_like_

 From jukebox joints is laid			_a neon_
And free-delivery TV sets			_swamp-_
On gravestone dates are played.			_fire_
Extra-large the _kings_ and _queens_		_cooled_
At either side arrayed				_by_
Have doors that open outward			_dry_
To the quarter of the Negroes			_ice_
Where the pressure of the blood			_until_
Is slightly higher --				_suddenly_
Due to smoldering shadows			_there is_
That sometimes turn to fire.			_a single_

						_ear-_
_Helm me, yardbird!				_piercing_
Help me!_					_flute_

						_call...._

-- Langston Hughes, _Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz_, 1961   *****

*****   Liner Notes
_For the poetically unhip_

"Jazztet Muted"

Because grandma lost her apron with all the answers in her pocket 
(perhaps consumed by fire) certain grand- and great-grandsons play 
music burning like dry ice against the ear.  Forcing cries of succor 
from its own unheard completion -- not resolved by Charlie Parker -- 
can we look to monk or Monk?  Or let it rest with Eric Dolphy?

-- Langston Hughes, _Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz_, 1961   *****

Yoshie