In this, the 17^th major collection of jazz poetry published on Jerry Jazz Musician, 50 poets from all over the world again demonstrate the ongoing influence the music and its associated culture has on their creative lives.

That these collections have become a unique and popular part of the fabric of the jazz world is a major source of pride for me, and a testament to the inspiration writers receive from their complex relationship with this extraordinary music.

As always, thanks to the poets, and I hope you enjoy.

.

Joe Maita

Editor/Publisher

(featuring the art of Paul Lovering)

.

On turning 70, and contemplating the future of Jerry Jazz Musician

I had an outpouring of thoughts and emotions during the recent 50-day car trip adventure I took to mark my 70^th birthday. Fortunately, few were of the dreadful and dark variety that one may expect at this stage of life. What’s next?

(photo by Rhonda Dorsett)

Interview with Laura Flam and Emily Sieu Liebowitz, authors of But Will You Love Me Tomorrow?: An Oral History of the 60’s Girl Groups

If You Want to Go to Heaven, Follow a Songbird – Mary K O’Melveny’s album of poetry and music

While consuming Mary K O’Melveny’s remarkable work in this digital album of poetry, readings and music, readers will discover how she is moved by the mastery of legendary musicians, the wings of a monarch butterfly, the climate and political crisis, the mysteries of space exploration, and by the freedom of jazz music that can lead to what she calls “the magic of the unknown.”

(with art by Kent Ambler)

Interview with Tad Richards, author of Jazz With a Beat: Small Group Swing, 1940 – 1960

The author makes the case that small group swing players like Illinois Jacquet, Louis Jordan (pictured) and Big Jay McNeely played a legitimate jazz that was a more pleasing listening experience to the Black community than the bebop of Parker, Dizzy, and Monk. It is a fascinating era, filled with major figures and events, and centered on a rigorous debate that continues to this day – is small group swing “real jazz?”

(Photo of Louis Jordan by William Gottlieb/Library of Congress)

The Sunday Poem(s): 23 Poets remember their father

This space on Sunday is generally reserved for a single poet to read one of their works, but this Father’s Day edition features 23 poets who weigh in on the complexity of their relationship with their father, revealing love, warmth, regret, sorrow – and in many cases a strong connection due to a common love of music.

Click here to be taken to “The Sunday Poem” page

(photo via RawPixel)

Short Fiction Contest-winning story #65 — “Ballad” by Lúcia Leão

The author’s award-winning story is about the power of connections – between father and child, music and art, and the past, present and future.

(art via PickPic.com)

Excerpts from David Rife’s Jazz Fiction: Take Two – Vol. 2: “Fathers in Jazz Fiction”

A substantial number of novels and stories with jazz music as a component of the story have been published over the years, and the scholar David J. Rife has written short essay/reviews of them.  In this second edition featuring excerpts from his book, Rife writes about four novels/short stories that include stories involving relationships between fathers and children.

Jazz History Quiz #172

Teddy Wilson (pictured) once said this about a fellow jazz pianist:

“That man had the most phenomenal musical gifts I’ve ever heard. He was miraculous. It’s like someone hitting a home run every time he picks up a bat. We became such fast friends that I was allowed to interrupt him anytime he was playing at the house parties in Toledo we used to make every night. When I asked him, he would stop and replay a passage very slowly, showing me the fingering on some of those runs of his. You just couldn’t figure them out by ear at the tempo he played them.”

Who is the pianist he is describing?

(photo of Teddy Wilson by William Gottlieb/Library of Congress)

Calling all poets!

News about a Jerry Jazz Musician printed jazz poetry anthology, and information about submitting your poetry for consideration

(photo CC0 1.0 DEED)

An appeal…

Dear Readers:

Reader funding helps support the expense of publishing this website, and to keep it free of advertising – which is a rarity in the dot-com world.  Many thanks to those who have recently contributed, and to those who have done so multiple times. Your support is very much appreciated.

If you are able, please consider making a contribution?  Information regarding how to do so is found by clicking here.

For viewing my long range vision for  Jerry Jazz Musician,  please click here.

Thank you!

Joe Maita

Editor/Publisher

Also in this issue…

In the ongoing series The Photographs of Giovanni Piesco, the Amsterdam-based photographer shares shots of Archie Shepp (pictured) and Mal Waldron; new editions of True Jazz Stories; Trading Fours with Douglas Cole, and new book excerpts, poetry, In Memoriam, short fiction and playlists

Click here for the previous issue of Jerry Jazz Musician

Coming Soon to Jerry Jazz Musician