Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
2 geese (for mark murphy)...
Time lapse
Where
?
Murphy
You go to my head
Crazy
Jazz
Murphy on the edge
Edge of the Garden flags
Windy
Wreaths fastened down
A Garden of the ages pages
In my notes
Boats
Charts south into Havana
Sweet sugar
Havana night
Rums
&
Rums
2 geese fly away out of the Garden
Into the windy flags & wreaths & red bows
Starry Havana night
!
Starry Havana night
,
Murphy
!
Where
?
Murphy
You go to my head
Crazy
Jazz
Murphy on the edge
Edge of the Garden flags
Windy
Wreaths fastened down
A Garden of the ages pages
In my notes
Boats
Charts south into Havana
Sweet sugar
Havana night
Rums
&
Rums
2 geese fly away out of the Garden
Into the windy flags & wreaths & red bows
Starry Havana night
!
Starry Havana night
,
Murphy
!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
marquee lights...
Steady
Rain on the street
A shine from streetlamps
&
Lampposts
Steady
Morning
The sound of the street
Splashing
Commuter train whistles at the crossings
It's Friday ! ...
&
Tonight
Piano players
Saxophone players
Impressionist painters
Horizons
Marquee lights
&
Jazz
Steady
Rain on the street
A shine from streetlamps
&
Lampposts
Steady
Morning
The sound of the street
Splashing
Commuter train whistles at the crossings
It's Friday ! ...
&
Tonight
Piano players
Saxophone players
Impressionist painters
Horizons
Marquee lights
&
Jazz
Steady
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Bob Barnes (1928-2011)
Bob Barnes (Robert H. Barnes) died October 6, 2011. He was a friend. I just now found out he passed away. He lived in Woodstock, New York and we kept in touch infrequently - a letter or a card or both around Christmastime - a phone call now and then. But I thought about Bob a lot - he was pretty much alone the last few years of his life - we had musical interests in common - him, a fine pianist and me a friend of jazz since 1954, the very first Newport Jazz Festival. Bob was a musician and a teacher - noble professions - smart and dedicated. I met Bob a few years ago where he was taking part in a summer music program, SummerKeys, in a town on the northern coast of Maine, Lubec. And Bob and I had a jazz musician in common, my friend jazz saxophonist Greg Abate. Bob had seen Greg perform at a venue in New Mexico on two occasions and immediately became a fan of this renowned bebop player. In 2002, I arranged for Bob to play piano with Greg on a benefit concert for the library in Lubec. He did a very credible job accompanying one of the best jazz players in the world, Greg Abate. Bob studied with the late great Lennie Tristano - another notch in his creds. Bob Barnes, interpreter of the Cole Porter songbook; he will be missed. -December 19, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
a 2nd song...
A 2nd song
Sing to me choruses carols
&
Hymns
Blues
Sing a breath sparkle
&
Laughter
Walking along the sea
Sing in my ear
.
I can hear the sea now
Sing to me choruses carols
&
Hymns
Blues
Sing a breath sparkle
&
Laughter
Walking along the sea
Sing in my ear
.
I can hear the sea now
christmas nights...
Christmas nights
A shiny frost on the street
In the city
Whistles
Sirens
Lights
& warmer in the morning
& whistles along the ocean
In the morning
.
At the station at Mystic
.
& a tiny angel flew to the top of the tree
To give the stars
A shiny frost on the street
In the city
Whistles
Sirens
Lights
& warmer in the morning
& whistles along the ocean
In the morning
.
At the station at Mystic
.
& a tiny angel flew to the top of the tree
To give the stars
midnight...
The blue street stars in the night
Glowing
Lamps yellow & Paris in the sun
Jazz
Violins
It's 4 A.M.
& strum strum slide slide
Django
Ahhhhhhh Ah
!
!
Midnight
Django
Ahhhhhhh Ah
!
!
Midnight
It's 4 A.M.
Glowing
Lamps yellow & Paris in the sun
Jazz
Violins
It's 4 A.M.
& strum strum slide slide
Django
Ahhhhhhh Ah
!
!
Midnight
Django
Ahhhhhhh Ah
!
!
Midnight
It's 4 A.M.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
do you remember...
Do you remember
The Totem Pole Roseland
The ballroom with the spinning reflecting ball
Above the center of the floor
?
Lowell
Glen Island
Eddie & the Waxo barrel bass
Gary Bossie
Me
?
In the Mood
Blinstrub's the Bradford Roof
The Savoy cotton dresses & Christmas lights in the summer
The elegance
?
Oh
The elegance
Miami
!
White & red &
Green
The Totem Pole Roseland
The ballroom with the spinning reflecting ball
Above the center of the floor
?
Lowell
Glen Island
Eddie & the Waxo barrel bass
Gary Bossie
Me
?
In the Mood
Blinstrub's the Bradford Roof
The Savoy cotton dresses & Christmas lights in the summer
The elegance
?
Oh
The elegance
Miami
!
White & red &
Green
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
is a lyric...
Is a lyric
Miles to go
On the High Road to the sea
Apples
Jams
Spiral hams
Toast
&
Tea
Just
The sea
Is a lyric
Miles to go
A song for me
Miles to go
On the High Road to the sea
Apples
Jams
Spiral hams
Toast
&
Tea
Just
The sea
Is a lyric
Miles to go
A song for me
Friday, December 9, 2011
thump the bass...
Jazz in Paris
The airy touch of Chet Baker's trumpet
Tenderly
The water on the river
The water on the street
Bouncing
A cool lavender off a cloud
Off a sky
Thump the bass
A cymbal counts time
A light orange under painting on the tree line
Beyond the parking lot lamps
&
Flags
&
Christmas lights
&
Big red bows
The sun is down the moon is up
Jazz in Paris
The airy touch of Chet Baker's trumpet
Tenderly
The water on the river
The water on the street
Bouncing
A cool lavender off a cloud
Off a sky
Thump the bass
A cymbal counts time
A light orange under painting on the tree line
Beyond the parking lot lamps
&
Flags
&
Christmas lights
&
Big red bows
The sun is down the moon is up
Jazz in Paris
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
a great mountain of sky...
A great mountain of sky
The clouds roll in in all colors
Under
Blue
Salmon
Gold
Low
They roll low
Into the telephone poles
&
Into the wires
Chimneys
Seas & rivers
&
&
Robert Frost poems
,
Robert Frost poems
To la Captain Bloom Hill
:
If one flight
Like last night low under
Clouds rolling in in all colors
Salmon
Blue
Gold
Breathe now
If one flight
;
That flight
The clouds roll in in all colors
Under
Blue
Salmon
Gold
Low
They roll low
Into the telephone poles
&
Into the wires
Chimneys
Seas & rivers
&
&
Robert Frost poems
,
Robert Frost poems
To la Captain Bloom Hill
:
If one flight
Like last night low under
Clouds rolling in in all colors
Salmon
Blue
Gold
Breathe now
If one flight
;
That flight
Sunday, December 4, 2011
sighs the sun...
Sighs the sun
At sunset
Sunrise
Tonight
Songs under Orion
& the rest of the stars
Venus & Cassiopeia
Play the night on oboes
Stella
Waterfront
How High the Moon
Ray Brown
,
Ray Brown
At sunset
Sunrise
Tonight
Songs under Orion
& the rest of the stars
Venus & Cassiopeia
Play the night on oboes
Stella
Waterfront
How High the Moon
Ray Brown
,
Ray Brown
oooo deee aah aah aaah...
jazz
At the rickety yellow table
Creak
Oooo deee aah aah aaah
The
Scenes
On the cutting room floor
From sunsets walks & stairs
To sunrises swatches reds & blues
Golden
jazz
At the rickety yellow table
Creak
Oooo deee aah aah aaah
There
The Willows
Are
Whispers
Now
;
jazz
At the rickety yellow table
Creak
Oooo deee aah aah aaah
At the rickety yellow table
Creak
Oooo deee aah aah aaah
The
Scenes
On the cutting room floor
From sunsets walks & stairs
To sunrises swatches reds & blues
Golden
jazz
At the rickety yellow table
Creak
Oooo deee aah aah aaah
There
The Willows
Are
Whispers
Now
;
jazz
At the rickety yellow table
Creak
Oooo deee aah aah aaah
Saturday, December 3, 2011
a long song...
Do you see the routine
?
The melodies in the queue
Short lists aaah
Oh
Flights out of port
Their white sails wafting
Easily
To the horizon
To the mountains
To the meadows
This
,
A long song
?
The melodies in the queue
Short lists aaah
Oh
Flights out of port
Their white sails wafting
Easily
To the horizon
To the mountains
To the meadows
This
,
A long song
Friday, December 2, 2011
the coffee is done...
Sound
Coffee percolating
Cars running by
The furnace on
Not cellos
& some noise I cannot identify
Not cellos
Trumpets
Or violins
Or violas
Chet Baker
?
No
The coffee is done
Coffee percolating
Cars running by
The furnace on
Not cellos
& some noise I cannot identify
Not cellos
Trumpets
Or violins
Or violas
Chet Baker
?
No
The coffee is done
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
leafy light...
The town is quiet
But for the winter's wind
&
The tides of night
But for boiling tea water on the stove
Bread cheese
&
The stars coming in under the curtains
In
Leafy light
In
December
But for the winter's wind
&
The tides of night
But for boiling tea water on the stove
Bread cheese
&
The stars coming in under the curtains
In
Leafy light
In
December
in a movie i make...
Pink salmon sky
Over Shaw's & Sovereign Bank
Lamps
&
Wires
Closing doors
Whispering songs
Flickers
Oceans wink
At the High Places
& Ginsberg waxes poetic at the moon coming up
In a movie I make
Over Shaw's & Sovereign Bank
Lamps
&
Wires
Closing doors
Whispering songs
Flickers
Oceans wink
At the High Places
& Ginsberg waxes poetic at the moon coming up
In a movie I make
her orange wings translucent...
Redux
The red pen
Red sky in the morning
Delights
Bewares
State fairs fast little mares
Jazz
In the evening
The Duets Esperanza & Zinno
Poetry & sketches in the morning
Tributes
&
Drabs
Literati & papaya
Oh
,
Man
!
Jazz
In the evening
Stars & sigh
Fly
High
Her orange wings translucent
&
Perfect
-
Perfectly
The red pen
Red sky in the morning
Delights
Bewares
State fairs fast little mares
Jazz
In the evening
The Duets Esperanza & Zinno
Poetry & sketches in the morning
Tributes
&
Drabs
Literati & papaya
Oh
,
Man
!
Jazz
In the evening
Stars & sigh
Fly
High
Her orange wings translucent
&
Perfect
-
Perfectly
Saturday, November 26, 2011
john coltrane & all the new york songs...
John Coltrane
&
All the New York songs
Jazz in My Sketchbook
Just
Jazz
&
One 3B pencil from Maine
.
I
N
E
E
D
Central Park West
In the morning
&
All the New York songs
Jazz in My Sketchbook
Just
Jazz
&
One 3B pencil from Maine
.
I
N
E
E
D
Central Park West
In the morning
Friday, November 25, 2011
ponder...
Ponder
Shortened hair tossed
Beard too
Shortened grained & white
Ponder
Slate gray touching a lip
Crow
Lines
Eyes
&
Purses of the mouth
Furrows
&
Forehead
.
Ponder
Shortened hair tossed
Beard too
Shortened grained & white
Ponder
Slate gray touching a lip
Crow
Lines
Eyes
&
Purses of the mouth
Furrows
&
Forehead
.
Ponder
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
that train whistle...
That train whistle
&
Rain & cars splashes in the streets
Noisy
Not like the wind on the bay
In the trees
Under circling stars
On black black skies perfectly &
Early
Not as close to me
&
Rain & cars splashes in the streets
Noisy
Not like the wind on the bay
In the trees
Under circling stars
On black black skies perfectly &
Early
Not as close to me
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
two figures...
Two figures
Mauve black fades
&
The
Lamps
Do
Too
The Group on a Street in & out of doorways
Shoppes
&
Carts under the New Streetlamps & dew
Each Other at Other Ends of a Street
The bar Indoors the sandwiches Outdoors fades
&
The
Lamps
Do
Too
Something written Nov. 16, '11 for
Three Figures In A Group, oil on paper by John Lorence, Feb. 4, '62.
Mauve black fades
&
The
Lamps
Do
Too
The Group on a Street in & out of doorways
Shoppes
&
Carts under the New Streetlamps & dew
Each Other at Other Ends of a Street
The bar Indoors the sandwiches Outdoors fades
&
The
Lamps
Do
Too
Something written Nov. 16, '11 for
Three Figures In A Group, oil on paper by John Lorence, Feb. 4, '62.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
is a ride...
Is a ride
Somewhere
Nearby
& far
Plain & star
Wings
Berries & brew
-
Brew
&
Leaves so few
-
High on a mountain
High on a cloud
Looking
I see a raindrop on a leaf in a storm
Somewhere
Nearby
& far
Plain & star
Wings
Berries & brew
-
Brew
&
Leaves so few
-
High on a mountain
High on a cloud
Looking
I see a raindrop on a leaf in a storm
i just don't know where you are...
I just don't know where you are
On a snowy night
On a sunny walk
Quick hearts
Quick hearts
The movie house is quiet now
There was a big moon this morning
No stars
Quiet
More than yesterday the day before & the day before that
Quick hearts
Quick hearts
-November 12, 2011
On a snowy night
On a sunny walk
Quick hearts
Quick hearts
The movie house is quiet now
There was a big moon this morning
No stars
Quiet
More than yesterday the day before & the day before that
Quick hearts
Quick hearts
-November 12, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
5:57 a.m. ...
A warm cool
A star
Some lights on across the bay
Another star
Out the window on the bay
Lights on across the bay
A red tail light up the street
A low hum of a car engine & another star
& the sound of coffee percolating
A warm cool
A star
Some lights on across the bay
Another star
Out the window on the bay
Lights on across the bay
A red tail light up the street
A low hum of a car engine & another star
& the sound of coffee percolating
A warm cool
warm november chimneys quiet...
Poets
Work in the morning
Colors
Magenta
Fog
Red leaves dancing
Warm November chimneys quiet
Birds
&
Dogs
Too
&
Walks
By the firehouse down the Catholic stairs
To the smokehouses
To write
Work in the morning
Colors
Magenta
Fog
Red leaves dancing
Warm November chimneys quiet
Birds
&
Dogs
Too
&
Walks
By the firehouse down the Catholic stairs
To the smokehouses
To write
Monday, November 7, 2011
draw with a word...
Draw with a word
April
Frost sky
Magenta again
November again
A flower a tear & the tent on the beach
Even in April
Even in November
April
Frost sky
Magenta again
November again
A flower a tear & the tent on the beach
Even in April
Even in November
Saturday, November 5, 2011
i heard the wind before daylight...
I heard the wind before daylight
Breaths of blue
&
Other colors
.
Now
,
The sun is on the bay & the movie house & the hill
&
The wind too
Boats bob blueberry muffins tea & jazz
Sassafras
Evening
Sunshines too
&
Other colors
Breaths of blue
&
Other colors
.
Now
,
The sun is on the bay & the movie house & the hill
&
The wind too
Boats bob blueberry muffins tea & jazz
Sassafras
Evening
Sunshines too
&
Other colors
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
little song the wind...
Little song the wind
Now
Then
Though
Sometimes like the Stan Kenton orchestra
Artistry in Rhythm
&
Intermission Riff
Montgomery
,
Plant and Stritch
,
1988
Whisperings of Ella
Mark Murphy
Bluebirds gotta fly
...
&
The
Moon
Is
Low
,
Speak low
The
Moon
Is
Low
Now
Then
Though
Sometimes like the Stan Kenton orchestra
Artistry in Rhythm
&
Intermission Riff
Montgomery
,
Plant and Stritch
,
1988
Whisperings of Ella
Mark Murphy
Bluebirds gotta fly
...
&
The
Moon
Is
Low
,
Speak low
The
Moon
Is
Low
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
karen mal - singer / songwriter / mandolinist
Lilt? Trill? Oh yes!
I live by the sea and I write poetry - Karen's voice is the sea, it is the poetry.
I heard her sing Stars Fell on Alabama at a friend's house in Maine - as good as I've ever heard the song sung - a favorite of mine.
I am waiting for her to do jazz anthems and the American songbook - Stars Fell on Alabama of course, I Cover the Waterfront, How High the Moon, and so on.
Take a look at The Space Between and House of Wills (both CDs are available on iTunes).
I heard her sing On the Sunny Side of the Street on House of Wills (Will Taylor & Strings Attached) - as good as I've ever heard the song sung - another favorite of mine.
& Suitcase Full of Memories on The Space Between.
Both CDs highly recommended.
More projects in the works. Keep a jazz ear out for Karen Mal.
Note: Originally from Connecticut, Karen now lives in Austin, Texas.
I live by the sea and I write poetry - Karen's voice is the sea, it is the poetry.
I heard her sing Stars Fell on Alabama at a friend's house in Maine - as good as I've ever heard the song sung - a favorite of mine.
I am waiting for her to do jazz anthems and the American songbook - Stars Fell on Alabama of course, I Cover the Waterfront, How High the Moon, and so on.
Take a look at The Space Between and House of Wills (both CDs are available on iTunes).
I heard her sing On the Sunny Side of the Street on House of Wills (Will Taylor & Strings Attached) - as good as I've ever heard the song sung - another favorite of mine.
& Suitcase Full of Memories on The Space Between.
Both CDs highly recommended.
More projects in the works. Keep a jazz ear out for Karen Mal.
Note: Originally from Connecticut, Karen now lives in Austin, Texas.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
they're out of the water...
Sea circles & stars
Long distances
,
Long distances
,
Long hearts
,
But it doesn't look like the boats are going to Mexico this winter
They're out of the water
Hulls scraped & painted ready to wrap
.
Moon & stars a whisper of wind
,
But it doesn't look like the boats are going to Mexico this winter
Long distances
,
Long distances
,
Long hearts
,
But it doesn't look like the boats are going to Mexico this winter
They're out of the water
Hulls scraped & painted ready to wrap
.
Moon & stars a whisper of wind
,
But it doesn't look like the boats are going to Mexico this winter
Saturday, October 15, 2011
this a.m. ...
7
Balmy
Windy
The rosa rugosa rushes
A gulp now mightily
The pinwheels spin
& so do
The purple flowers the blackbird is in
Windy
Balmy
!
7:01
Balmy
Windy
The rosa rugosa rushes
A gulp now mightily
The pinwheels spin
& so do
The purple flowers the blackbird is in
Windy
Balmy
!
7:01
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
a perfect backcloth...
Early
This morning the sky is black
A Heaven filled with needles
Paper lights
Purple orange sea blue
Green
Paper lights
A perfect backcloth
On
Which
To paint perfect things
See perfect things
Feel
Perfect things
This morning the sky is black
A Heaven filled with needles
Paper lights
Purple orange sea blue
Green
Paper lights
A perfect backcloth
On
Which
To paint perfect things
See perfect things
Feel
Perfect things
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
it's a flannel morning...
It's a flannel morning
Boats leaving the harbors
Sails rippling full
Breezes & song
Things
&
Bumps
On
The
Way
,
It's a flannel morning
Boats leaving the harbors
Sails rippling full
Breezes & song
Things
&
Bumps
On
The
Way
,
It's a flannel morning
Thursday, October 6, 2011
in the mirrors...
In the mirrors
Joy & you
Kerouac poetry rivers long staircases
Violins trombones drums & dreams
In the mirrors
Looo dee lah
In the mirrors
The road
A healthy berry salad
Sweet & tea
Imagine
Singing
Out to the room
In the mirrors
Looo dee lah
In the mirrors
Click
.
Joy & you
Kerouac poetry rivers long staircases
Violins trombones drums & dreams
In the mirrors
Looo dee lah
In the mirrors
The road
A healthy berry salad
Sweet & tea
Imagine
Singing
Out to the room
In the mirrors
Looo dee lah
In the mirrors
Click
.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
mornings are poems...
Mornings are poems
Every morning a poem
Here
&
Away
Near the shore
Near the winter
Flocks & horses pretty
Birds in a meadow
Flying
From February & April & June & December
oh
,
Thoop thoop thoop thoop
Every morning a poem
Here
&
Away
Near the shore
Near the winter
Flocks & horses pretty
Birds in a meadow
Flying
From February & April & June & December
oh
,
Thoop thoop thoop thoop
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
entrance...
Entrance
Willowy morning
Silence
Silent poses ascending a staircase
A mountain path
Tall grasses
Pedestals
Plateaus ocean seas
Willowy morning awake
Look
Miles to go
.
See
The Matisse church in the drizzle
,
The red maples in October
Willowy morning
Silence
Silent poses ascending a staircase
A mountain path
Tall grasses
Pedestals
Plateaus ocean seas
Willowy morning awake
Look
Miles to go
.
See
The Matisse church in the drizzle
,
The red maples in October
Sunday, October 2, 2011
rain...
A yawing breeze
Wobbly
A lone seagull
The pinwheel turns
Side to side
The flowers are quiet
Rain
Wobbly
A lone seagull
The pinwheel turns
Side to side
The flowers are quiet
Rain
Friday, September 30, 2011
a friday song...
A Friday song
Of wind &
Breath &
Glee
Circles
The wild wings fly
In dream
Of Scotland
&
Youth
&
Smile
&
Music
Of wind &
Breath &
Glee
Circles
The wild wings fly
In dream
Of Scotland
&
Youth
&
Smile
&
Music
last night in alabama...
Serenades
,
Spitfires
-
Birmingham Dan
,
And a shrimp boat parade
Last night in Alabama
,
And she sang
,
Spitfires
-
Birmingham Dan
,
And a shrimp boat parade
Last night in Alabama
,
And she sang
Thursday, September 29, 2011
mornings...
Mornings
Ellington wrote Solitude in 1934
A pink morning on the roof & chimney
Across the street
& pink paint on the boards
6:30
Coffee
Black coffee
&
Movies
In the quiet
In the spirals of Garbo's hair
&
Light
Orange
The paper lanterns whir
Ellington wrote Solitude in 1934
A pink morning on the roof & chimney
Across the street
& pink paint on the boards
6:30
Coffee
Black coffee
&
Movies
In the quiet
In the spirals of Garbo's hair
&
Light
Orange
The paper lanterns whir
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
the end of september...
Alone
Lilies
&
Wet grass
The sun up
On
The
Movie
House
Scraped boards dusty roof
Time is still this morning
Her slow walk across the lawn
To the dog
Back
To the garden weathering
The end of September
Lilies
&
Wet grass
The sun up
On
The
Movie
House
Scraped boards dusty roof
Time is still this morning
Her slow walk across the lawn
To the dog
Back
To the garden weathering
The end of September
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
i play jazz with miro & matisse...
Sideviews
Sideboards
Sidemen
I play jazz with Miro & Matisse
Circles
Oranges
Neon
Blue
There's
My
Heart
In sail & wing
On wave & sky
Doo eeee aaah doo
-
Bop
!
I play jazz with Miro & Matisse
Sideboards
Sidemen
I play jazz with Miro & Matisse
Circles
Oranges
Neon
Blue
There's
My
Heart
In sail & wing
On wave & sky
Doo eeee aaah doo
-
Bop
!
I play jazz with Miro & Matisse
Monday, September 26, 2011
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