My art, writing and poetry have always been closely linked to my life—the physical and the life of the mind. This poem is about fifteen years old. I still enjoy it. While at readings, I was never really sure if this one connected with audiences. I was obstinate, though; I often brought it out.
I hope you like it, or take away a line that you like.
Another audio file of an older poem that is part of a manuscript titled, Elegy for the United States of America.
I guess I’m on a jazz kick, and a love jones.
I hope you dig it.
Clifford Brown
I completed a manuscript called Pure Pop around 2004. Gavin Craig and the fine folks at Revelator Press published an e-chapbook version of it, which is available on this site. The title poem of the manuscript is dedicated to Diane Wakoski, and it is about dealing with winter, and I always think of it around this time.
I hope you can listen to it; I hope you enjoy it.
I have been working on a jazz playlist. The idea occurred to me while reading Quincy Troupe’s book, miles and me. This is by no means a complete survey of the entire jazz catalogue—just a bunch of jazz musicians and tunes which I dig.
You will, of course, notice the inclusion of a lot of Miles Davis. I love the trumpet, and Davis is by far my favorite jazz musician.
Also, yes, this exploration of jazz pretty much takes a nose dive at the onset of the 80s and comes to an abrupt end.
On Presidents Day, I would like to point back in time to a few early paintings. Very early on, I was focused on a series of paintings and collages that focused on the theme of liberty. Most of these works included an image of the Statue of Liberty. A little later, I latched on to the idea of presidents peering over the shoulders of soccer players: a theme of the future. The theme revolved around the idea that soccer was the future, that national evolution was necessary and that presidential figures would understand this.
Collage from 2001.
I can’t remember the title of this painting, but it was a large piece, like 4’x9’, on cardboard.
Collage on box board.
Washington Peers into the Future
Crossing a Delaware.
Is there anything finer than Ozzie Bailey’s vocals on “Autumn Leaves” with Duke Ellington and Ray Nance and company behind him? I just don’t know. My gosh. Swoon.
Ozzie Bailey
I do not remember when I first became enthralled with the music of Miles Davis, but Jackie and Zach were young, so it has to have been about 20-25 years ago—which is wild to me because it seems like I was just discovering the breadth of the Miles Davis library only yesterday. (I am only disappointed that I hadn’t discovered MD while I was in my teens, some thirty-five years ago.)
Jackie and Zach gave me a copy of Quincy Troupe’s book, miles and me, for Christmas. It is a very good, even-handed account of the man. While not delving into and deconstructing the problematic issues surrounding Miles Davis—the flawed individual—for pages and pages, Troupe does outline and go into some depth about Miles Davis, the whole person, without pulling punches—which I appreciate.
I really enjoyed reading about Miles Davis—the musician—the jazz scene, and Troupe’s perspectives on music, race and art in an evolving America. The epilogue, in and of itself, is worth reading, and highly recommended.
However, I recommend the whole thing.
“A meandering but vigorous story about wayward youth and the necessity of art.” —Kirkus Reviews
You can check out the full review at Your Silent Face at Kirkus Reviews.
…or on Amazon!
…or at the Apple Book Store!
