In Memoriam: “Departures to the Final Arms Hotel in 2024” – poetic tributes, by Terrance Underwood

December 30th, 2024

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photo via Pexels.com

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An oversized share of legendary jazz musicians died during 2024.    Terrance Underwood pays poetic homage to five who have touched his life by imagining their departures to the Final Arms Hotel, a destination he introduces in his prelude.

 

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The Final Arms Hotel Awaits
………………………………..A Prelude

Quite a place
This clever domicile
Where tones chords and context prevail

Packed with the prominent who have brought
Familiar trappings with them moving in
Louis Armstrong’s Cornet Chop Suey for instance

On the main floor and the mezzanine
Intersections where myth and remembrance mix
Fill the rest of what is known as time by this crowd

But it’s the top floor assortment of eclectic venues
That provides the foremost appeal
Encouraging all who come to play & listen

Here one may find a room for
Johnny Hartman with Coltrane’s Quartet
Dropping by to say Hello
Who never play Lush Life without a
Surreptitious Strayhorn standing in the wings
As only he knows the places & how those notes left home

Another where Basie musters the Lester & Herschel edition
For a timestamp clock jump before
A segue to some savvy Savoy

An intimate setting for duets
From Red Mitchell alongside
Hank & Jim & Jimmy
To Kenny Drew and NHOP
Sharing a shining hour
Delicacy polished for the discerning

Still one a bit more tavern-esque
For the more curious interests
As when Professor Longhair
Mambos down fronting
A brushed cymbal and
Bennie Green’s “slippery” trombone

From any distance
Such an irresistible
Necessary place to reside
With a Music so eternal
The reason advance bookings are made
& continue to be held at reception

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Albert “Tootie” Heath
May 31, 1935 – April 3, 2024

 

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With Albert’s Arrival
April 3, 2024

Now firmly an honored denizen
the fraternity is united again
Tootie’s coming has rejuiced
Phi Kappa Heath
bringing more Philadelphia Brotherly Love
and his time tested rhythm
to the truth flowing through blood
families & Jazz
providing the means and the setting
for a long envisioned exchange of notes
with the other great siblings this Music created
those Joneses from Detroit
in the Grand Pavilion at the Final Arms Hotel
and since all have played with everyone
recorded with everyone else
current well knowns will no doubt show up
be advised that foot tapping
& finger snapping may be reflexive

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んなこたない, CC BY-SA 4.0  via Wikimedia Commons

Russell Malone
November 8, 1963 – August 23, 2024

 

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One Day Perhaps:
On Russell Malone
August 23, 2024

Leaving residence
At the Final Arms Hotel
For a misty boulevard stroll
Could be I see you
(Maybe on your way
To meet up with Wes
To go Bumpin’ On Sunset)
You on your side
Me on mine
Then forgoing discretion
I shout across
Love Looks Good On You
Nodding in agreement
He returns a beauty
Listen To The Dawn

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Benny Golson
January 25, 1929 – September 21, 2024

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To A New Guest
September 21, 2024

Insinuated
So as to observe
At a table on the Golden Terrace
Among notably previous stalwarts
Tippin’ some cool heavenly beverage
Savoring the warm beginning of Autumn’s approach
When the news came that Benny Golson
Had claimed his reservation
For the ambiance of the Final Arms Hotel
Bringing with him memorable Stablemates
Killer Joe and Clifford and Betty

Good news indeed for those holding the Brass
Who had long been waiting to rummage with his luggage
And add his particular shade of color to their current whispers
…………………………………………………………………………Uttered after dark

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photo by Giovanni Piesco

Lou Donaldson
November 1, 1926 – November 9, 2024

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I Thought About Lou
November 9, 2024

notice was received at the Final Arms Hotel
…………………………………………………stating simply
……………………….expect Lou soon
& the buzz began
Good gracious!
Big John and Grant grinned
each to the other
with Hammond & Gibson harmony
Baby Face Willette spread his fingers
……………………………….Here ‘Tis
the word spread
as more Blue Note mens & womens stride
………………………………out from silhouette
in particular smiling form & shape
blues walks across the green
of this Hotel’s spacious soulful landscape
all adorned in the finery of such sound
no need to cop a plea ever with me

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Roy Haynes in 1961/photo (cropped) by Brian McMillen/via Wikimedia Commons

Roy Haynes
March 13, 1925 – November 12, 2024

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Roy Haynes Reigns
November 12, 2024

snared early by the taut sound
of drum skin rhythm Roy
brush rides a cymbal
into The Final Arms Hotel packing
…………………………………..sticks guns
……………………..slinging them
for nearly a century of acumen
through clubs concert halls
bandstands & recordings
from shellac to vinyl
mono to stereo
analog to digital
all manner of styles
…………..all masters
……………………..all mates
…………………………………all welcoming
and who should be found
waiting at the front door
Phineas & Paul
primed for further focused reflections

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Listen to the 1961 recording of John Coltrane performing “Everytime We Say Goodbye,” with McCoy Tyner (piano); Steve Davis (bass); and Elvin Jones (drums).  [Rhino/Atlantic]

 

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Terrance Underwood is a retired Gas Turbine Package Engineer whose career offered opportunities to work all over the world. A devoted jazz enthusiast, his first memory operating a mechanical devise was a 4-speed spindle drop record changer for his father’s collection of 78s.

Click here to read Proceeding From Behind: A collection of poems grounded in the rhythmic, relating to the remarkable, by Terrance Underwood

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