Jazz Poem by Ray Rivera

Jazz! Blue Monk Played by Thelonious Monk, Jazz! Lady Day Singing
'Bout her "Lover Man" Jazz! Stan Getz and the Girl from Ipanema, Hey dig
Jackie Williams, Mr. Cool himself beatin' time on "Caravan" Jazz! Hank
Jones, piano playing is such a delight, have you heard Horace Silver
playing "Song for my Father" or Billy Taylor play "Ray's Tune" as only he can. Jazz! Lester Young leaps in with his cool, cool sound. Jazz! Ella sings 'bout the moon, while Dakota Staton tells you of the late, late show. Jazz! Count Basie is down for the count. Cause Joe Williams has the blues. Jazz! I've got a hunch that's John Bunch on that Edgar Samson tune. Jazz! Have you taken a trip on route 66, with Nat King Cole 'cause if you haven't Duke Ellington will take you for a ride on the A Train. Jazz! Major Holly, Slam Stewart, Milt Hinton, Richard Davis, Ray Brown, Red Mitchele - Can you picture them all playin' together, Jazz! Feet tapping to the drum beat of Papa Jo Jones, Ray Mosca, Cozy Cole, Percy Brice, Art Blakely, Buddy Rich, Louie Belson, Max Roach. The beat goes on and on. Jazz! The guitar of Gene Bertoncini, on a soulful Bossa Nova, Kenny Burrell, Playin' the Blues, Wes doing it his way, the rhythm of Freddy Green. Jazz! Paul Desmond takin'five while Yard Bird Charlie Parker let's you know that now's the time for jazz. There are so many past and present who have given to this great American art from we call Jazz.