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Jazz Notes, Harlem 1950's

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smoky underground sounds

of free spirits of the street

fill the Harlem air.

it's improv, it's in the pocket

hands, fingers and mouths 

breathing life, it's the

birth of the cool,

cool notes of jazz.


drum lays down the beat 

that pumps the bass 

that drives the rhythm

Miles and 'Trane free-blowing

blowing out blue note

messages to the street. 

Monk in full flow, flowing 

blood through red-hot veins

the sound of jazz

on sweltering summer nights 

feeds the soul of the city.

◄ Days Like This

Being Someone Else ►

Comments

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Paul Waring

Fri 7th Apr 2017 18:15

Thanks John for your kind comment and praise of my first audio attempt. It is especially nice coming from you who has probably led the way on here with recordings.

Cheers,

Paul

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John Coopey

Fri 7th Apr 2017 08:53

Like Graham, Paul, I struggle to appreciate jazz. I can take trad jazz in small doses but I'm always emotionally searching for structure.
An excellent choice, mind you, for your audio. Well read (mine need around a dozen takes!) with the effect of the alliteration at the end really coming through.

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Paul Waring

Fri 7th Apr 2017 08:48

Thank you Frances, I feel very encouraged by your comment. The good folk on here, yourself included, haven't half helped me since I started posting in Dec. I'm beginning to feel brave enough to get out there and start doing some readings because I am enjoying all this so much.

Happy days ?

Paul

Frances Macaulay Forde

Fri 7th Apr 2017 03:30

Well done on your first audio, Paul!

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Paul Waring

Thu 6th Apr 2017 22:43

Thanks Ray, lovely praise. Your rich experience of music, including jazz, makes your words more special. I bet you have so many fascinating stories to tell and I'd love to hear them someday.

Paul

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Paul Waring

Thu 6th Apr 2017 22:03

Well thank you all, you lovely people.

Nat, thank you. I love your 'tres cool' comment.

David, thanks, so glad you enjoyed my debut. I feel a John Thomson Fast Show jazz sketch coming on! However, I think your rich, laid back tones would have sounded better reading this.

Col, thank you too. I really wanted to try to record a poem (especially as I haven't performed live yet) and, finally, I did. I so look forward to getting out there and performing - and with your encouragement I think I will. Ta!

Again, thank you one and all.

Paul

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raypool

Thu 6th Apr 2017 22:02

I like that you enjoyed writing this Paul and it shows. It is hard to describe the experience of free flying in jazz - my own life has been a challenge at the keyboard and I know the ins and outs of effort involved - but to listen is to bleed sound from the veins of the greats.

Ray

<Deleted User> (13762)

Thu 6th Apr 2017 19:23

Melodious meThunks and well done on the audio you brave fella. Particularly liked:

drum lays down the beat
that pumps the bass
that drives the rhythm

Col

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Paul Waring

Thu 6th Apr 2017 17:16

Thanks Graham, fingers crossed you will get slowly get into jazz.

Thanks David. Relaxing listening to jazz on a lovely spring day sounds (and is) idyllic. I hadn't realised that Miles Davis felt like that about the term jazz, that's sparked my interest in learning more about this.

Thanks chaps, much appreciated.

Paul

Edit - I've just added audio for this, my first WoL recording!

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Graham Sherwood

Thu 6th Apr 2017 09:56

I've never been close enough to Jazz to understand it. To me it's a foreign language. However this piece is jam-packed with the life of it, full of music.

It took me years to like coffee because I thought I ought to like it. I think Jazz might be the same.

Good work Paul!

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