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Greetings from Portland, Oregon:
…..For several years, in an effort to provide poets from all over the world a platform on which to display their enthusiasm for the culture of jazz music, and to nurture the historic connection of jazz and literature, I have assembled 16 major jazz poetry collections that have been published solely on the Jerry Jazz Musician website.
…..As these anthologies evolved, I have been consistently encouraged by many poets to publish the anthologies in printed book form. I have shared this desire, and am proud to announce that, in association with the Portland-based small press Unsolicited Press, future Jerry Jazz Musician jazz poetry collections will be published in book form.
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Details follow:
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…..The initial printed anthology of jazz poetry will be published on approximately November 15, 2024. As with all previous collections, this anthology will be edited by Jerry Jazz Musician, and will be published in partnership with Unsolicited Press. They have an impressive roster of writers and titles, as well as distribution partners who reach bookstores, gift shops, libraries, online retailers, etc. You can visit their website by clicking here.
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Submission guidelines:
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- All styles of poetry will be considered, but the poems need to have a “jazz-theme.” If you have questions about what that means, I suggest you visit this page for a wealth of examples
- Submissions open on June 10, 2024, and are limited to five poems
- Only previously unpublished poems will be considered
- Jazz-themed poems previously submitted to Jerry Jazz Musician that have not yet been published must be re-submitted to be considered for this anthology
- Poems must be submitted on a Microsoft Word (or equivalent) document and attached to an email sent to [email protected], with a subject titled “Poems to consider for the printed jazz anthology.” Combine all your submissions on one document, please. Poems submitted in any other fashion may not be considered
- Brief poet biographies will be included in the “contributors” section at the conclusion of the book. Therefore, when you submit your poems, include a biography that reads something like the following:
- John Doe is a retired carpenter and the author of four poetry collections, one of which, “A Cat Named Mouse” [Cat ‘n’ Mouse Press] was nominated for a 2022 Pushcart Prize
- Submission deadline is July 19, 2024. (Once you have submitted, please send only essential revisions)
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- Poets will be notified of their status via email by September 15, 2024
- Approximately 80 poems will be published within the anthology. (The number of poets published within it will be determined by September 15)
- Payment to poets published within the anthology will be made in the form of two copies of the book.
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…..Going forward, Unsolicited Press and I anticipate publishing two major anthologies of jazz poetry per year, which will only be available in book form. While future extensive jazz poetry collections will not likely be available for reading in their entirety on the Jerry Jazz Musician website, smaller collections and individual poems will continue to be published on the website.
…..This is an exciting development that I am immensely proud of, and I am of course fully aware that this couldn’t happen without the creative spirit and energy of every poet I have had the privilege of publishing – and those I have yet to meet.
…..I am also grateful to Unsolicited Press for their support and passion for this vision. We are absolutely determined to make this a success!
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Sincerely,
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Joe Maita
Editor/Publisher
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photo by Rhonda Dorsett
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Watch a 1958 television appearance by Langston Hughes reading his poem, “The Weary Blues,” to the accompaniment of the Doug Parker Band
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Click here to read The Sunday Poem
Click here to read “A Collection of Jazz Poetry – Winter, 2024 Edition”
Click here to read “Ballad,” Lúcia Leão’s winning story in the 65th Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest
Click here for information about how to submit your poetry or short fiction
Click here to subscribe to the (free) Jerry Jazz Musician quarterly newsletter
Click here to help support the ongoing publication of Jerry Jazz Musician, and to keep it commercial-free (thank you!)
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Jerry Jazz Musician…human produced (and AI-free) since 1999
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