Lively Up the Blog

I thought I'd lively up the blog with a contest.

Earlier this summer, my husband and I were listening to the Ron Carter Trio at Bohemian Caverns, and I was wondering why it is hard to find poems about current jazz musicians.  It's easy to find poems about Charlie Parker, and even I have written poems that reference Monk.  But what about some of the musicians who are active now?!

So I came up with this contest.

It is open to any poet of any age, but the poem has to be inspired by a jazz musician Ron Carter's age or younger.  I know that Carter is not that young.  (For the record, he was born May 4, 1937.)  But since he inspired the contest, I thought I'd include him.

I would like to end the contest on August 19, that is, Bill Clinton's birthday and a day near the end of my summer break.  However, unlike many contests, I will be publishing the poems as I receive them.  Please send them to thesongis at gmail dot com .  Got it.  Emailing in the body of the email is better.

I would prefer poems under thirty lines, but longer is okay.

With your poem, send me a link to a YouTube video of the song and perhaps even a picture you'd like to post with it.  An image from Wikimedia Commons is probably best.

And here is some inspiration.

First, of course, some music by Ron Carter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPwp6YsraZw ("Willow Weep For Me")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpErj5U2FcI ("Little Waltz" -- recorded in 1969)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfUqggDylJU ("Autumn Leaves")

I also wanted to include McCoy Tyner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PukuQPUKfyU

But let's include some younger people, too.

I want to start with Robert Glasper!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onXoreYFMhU ("Smells Like Teen Spirit")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-0JZlrk4xA ("Afro Blue")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDBxWQtgypY (Here he plays more conventionally.)

Or you may prefer Allison Miller:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkYiTUcrSqk ("Big and Lovely")

Danilo Perez is always fun to listen to.

This is his "Galactic Panama" :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQfOBeEU4JA

Helen Sung performs with Ron Carter here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_2hHgznUvg

Here she plays "Shall We Tango?"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyLmcLbt2Cw

I'll finish with Ambrose Akinmusire as I think I am including too many pianists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKOuk9j0F6U  ("The Imagined Savior is Far Easier to Paint")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNzE2nTCtxE ("Live at the Jazz Standard")

Post script....links to Gerald Clayton Trio *and* Jason Moran!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB5CX2No2es
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpHq_cRKGyw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9LZ5kLZ3To

Good luck!  Let me know if you have questions!!  (Please email them to thesongis address or post them below.)

Also, the poems you send may be unpublished or published--if you have rights to your poems.  This blog counts as a publication.