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, Pres 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