Poetry and Jazz

In addition to being National Poetry Month, April also is Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM). JAM is an initiative of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. It is intended to draw attention to both jazz history and jazz today and encourage jazz programming throughout the month.

Jazz and poetry have a special relationship. I was fortunate to have been introduced to jazz poetry through a workshop offered by The Writers Place. Glenn North of the American Jazz Museum was the facilitator.

Music Bath

Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons, and you will find that it is to the soul what the water bath is to the body.-Oliver Wendell Holmes

Notes flow from speakers
dripping or gushing on demand.
Beats band into bars
and 12 bars become the blues.
Riffs repeat. Riffs repeat.
Tones tantalize and turn into
the simultaneous sounds
that are harmony.
Song stylists sing soulfully.
Total immersion is achieved.


Learn more about Jazz Appreciation Month by going to Smithsonian Jazz

You also might be interested in "A Brief Guide to Jazz Poetry".