jazz is an attitude
an artform that spans
from cultures to styles
from critics to fans
born in the melting pot of new orleans
rythms from Africans
harmony from Europeans
it started with the blues
then it took to the air
the jazz seed started spreading and it went on from there
to dixieland swing be-bop cool jazz and more
freeform and funk to orchestral scores
through every kind of change it reflected the sound
of whatever was there
of what was going down
but youd never find it selling to the highest bid
it always stuck to its guns unlike some others did
you say “times have changed and styles have to”
but have we lost our way in our search for something new
jazz per se may have gone but its ashes still flare
in the spirit of the music in the notes on the air
jazz thing
jazz was the popular music of its day
you could turn on the radio and hear someone play
a line a phrase
something that got to you
lyrics that caught your ear
a note that somehow rang true
there was basie bird duke coltrane and miles
they were mixing it up redefining styles
satchmo and ella billie prez and ron
herbie and wayne and the list goes on
such dedication to an art is rare these days
yet there are thousands of jazz musicians even today

young men and women working at their craft
most of them struggling helping re-define the art
you say “times have changed as it tends to do”
but have we lost our way in our search for something new
jazz per se may have gone but its ashes still flare
in the spirit of the music in the notes on the air
jazz thing