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photo Creative Commons Zero – CC0
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“When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.”
-John F. Kennedy, in an October, 1963 address at Amherst College honoring the poet Robert Frost, who died in January of that year
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…..We are clearly living during a time of arrogance and corruption, a time when the news is fast, furious, and outrageous – a time like that which Wallace Stevens characterized at the outset of World War II as contributing to a “pressure of reality.” This pressure may be overcoming us today, to the point where it is near impossible to seriously make room in our psyche for what Stevens called the “power of contemplation.”
…..In Why Poetry?, Matthew Zapruder’s excellent exploration of poetry – and his plea to return to reading it – the author quotes Stevens as saying in a 1941 lecture, “For more than ten years now, there has been an extraordinary pressure of news…at first, of the collapse of our system, or, call it, of life…and finally news of a war…And for more than ten years, the consciousness of the world has concentrated on events which have made the ordinary movement of life seem to be the movement of people in the intervals of a storm…Little of what we believed has been true. Only the prophecies are true. The present is an opportunity to repent.”
…..Zapruder writes that what Stevens argues for is to “actively resist the pressure of all the news and information and input with which we are flooded, to push back with force to create a different kind of space within ourselves,” and to propose “a kind of environmentalism of the imagination, a call for us to actively carve out in our own minds and daily lives a space for imagination that is like a nature preserve or ecologically protected area.”
…..Based on the amount of quality poetry being submitted to Jerry Jazz Musician virtually every day, poets are busy with the work of psychic exploration, often times with jazz at the center of their thoughts, and at others with contemporary challenges influencing their themes. Understanding that people long for connection during this time of intense division, chaos, illness and sadness, I have tried to make room for both creative pursuits, publishing quarterly collections of jazz poetry as well as periodic collections of poetry that reflect our vehement, turbulent times. Both of these concepts will continue here indefinitely because I believe that, in the words of Zapruder, there will always be a “few moments at least,” where, with poetry, “we can feel protected against the constant superficial, distracting noise that is the pressure of the real, where we can feel renewed, so that something else can begin to happen.”
…..And something else indeed needs to happen. So, why not poetry?
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…..With that in mind, some things regarding poetry to report on…The autumn collection of jazz poetry will be published the week of November 30. Much of the work submitted is awe-inspiring and provocative, and the result is another edition of contributions by writers – many published on Jerry Jazz Musician for the first time – who are playing a part in growing the contemporary creative culture of this most American of music…Also, there will be another collection of “Poetry reflecting the era of COVID, Black Lives Matter and a heated political season.” This edition – the fifth of its kind – will likely be published on or around January 20 (a day that can’t come around soon enough). Poets who wish to submit their work for consideration can click here for information on how to do so.
…..Other news to share…Last week I had the privilege of interviewing Ricky Riccardi, author of the acclaimed Heart Full of Rhythm: The Big Band Years of Louis Armstrong. Anticipated publication date of the interview is December 14. I can’t recommend this excellent book highly enough – it is a thorough view of the artist’s career from 1929 – 1947 (the years his big band was in business), and an interesting look at American history with Armstrong at its center. To get a feel for it, check out an excerpt by clicking here…I have set up an interview with Kevin Whitehead, the jazz critic for NPR’s “Fresh Air with Terry Gross,” and author of Play the Way You Feel: The Essential Guide to Jazz Stories on Film, a book that, according to its publisher (Oxford), “looks closely at movies, cartoons, and a few TV shows that tell jazz stories, from early talkies to modern times, with an eye to narrative conventions and common story points.” I am hopeful the interview will be published sometime in January.
…..Last week, the winner of the 55th Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest was announced and published. You can read “Chromesthesia,” Shannon Brady’s wonderful story of connecting music to color – and coming to terms with the loss of a beloved father – by clicking here. In the coming weeks, several of the short-listed entries from the 55th competition will also be published. You can get information about the 56th Short Fiction Contest by clicking here.
…..A couple of interesting albums to make mention of; Monday Nights is a terrific recording by the husband and wife team of vocalist/guitarist Sophie Bancroft and bassist Tom Lyne, who interpret standards like “On the Street Where You Live,” “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?” and “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To.” Recorded during their COVID-necessitated weekly Facebook livestream performances, you can find information about this imaginative and comforting recording by clicking here…The other album stuck on my “turntable” of late is the saxophonist Carla Marciano’s Psychosis – Homage to Bernard Herrmann. Ms. Marciano is considered to be one of the top jazz talents in Europe, and this recording is her homage to Herrmann, a genius of mid-20th Century film score. Exquisite and powerful renditions of memorable music from films like Taxi Driver, Psycho, Vertigo and Marnie. Click here for info on the recording.
…..A few contributing writers have news to share…Charles Ingham, whose uniquely creative “Jazz Narratives” have been published in their entirety on Jerry Jazz Musician, reports that his book Los Angeles Blue Notes: A Photo-Narrative History of L.A. Jazz has been published by Border Ink Press. The book was created as something like a “catalog” for a group art gallery show he is participating in, and features many of the narratives that originally appeared here. You can request information from Charles about his book by clicking here…The jazz poet Namaya’s new CD, Jazz Ku Bop: Jazz in the Key of Ku – an innovative fusion of jazz, word, story and dream – is now available. Information about it can be found by clicking here…Ed Ruzicka’s new collection of poetry, My Life in Cars (Truth Serum Press) is a “ménage a trios between desire, America’s highways and the wizardry of words.” Information about the book can be found by clicking here…
…..Finally, some sad news to report. Steve Young, an award winning broadcast journalist and accomplished short fiction writer whose work appeared in many publications, once even garnering a Pushcart Prize nomination, passed away in August. His story “Bella by Barlight” was a short-listed entry in our 54th Short Fiction Contest, and was, according to Steve’s son-in-law Justin, his last published piece. You can read it by clicking here. Heartfelt condolences to those Steve touched.
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…..Thanks for reading…Keep the faith, and may the grace of Thanksgiving enrich you and yours this year, as always, in good health.
…..Joe
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Listen to the poet Robert Creeley read “Have We Told You All You’d Thought To Know,” backed by John Mills (saxophone), Steve Swallow (bass), and Chris Massey (drums)
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