Congratulations to the Winners of the Summer Contest

....and thank you to everyone who participated, voted, and encouraged others to vote!

Avis D. Matthews' "Metaphorical" was a resounding favorite, winning in three categories (Thelma's Prize, Jazz...Ron Carter and After, and Jazz...is Local).  Avis' poem was beautiful and inspiring when I read it in the summer, and it is beautiful and refreshing as I re-read it in the fall.  I am looking forward to going to one of Lori Williams' concerts at some point.  (Lori is the singer whom Avis celebrates.)  Poetry is...Metaphorical!  And here is a link to Avis' poem:

http://thesongis.blogspot.com/2014/06/metaphorical.html

For your listening pleasure, here are some of Lori Williams' songs as well, starting with "Afro Blue."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmrk2adDEMg

Here she performs "I Remember Clifford" at this year's Poysdorf Jazz and Wine Summer Festival in Austria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvaYz1LFf10

"Little Sunflower" is from the same festival:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22MYUdMp748

Jazz Traditions, on the other hand, ended in a tie between Mary Jo Balistreri's "Jivin'" and Clifford Brooks' "Blues 'round Midnight."  "Jivin'" responds to the jazz paintings of Stuart Davis, specifically his "Premier.""Blues 'round Midnight" reminds us of the blues that grounds jazz, particularly the vocals of Billie Holiday.  Both poems epitomize Jazz Traditions!

To read Mary Jo Balistreri's "Jivin'," please follow this link:
http://thesongis.blogspot.com/2014/08/jivin-and-new-metered-riff-by-mary-jo.html

The music of Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross is a good accompaniment for "Jivin'"!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDbAsndZGW0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul54NWmwLxs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXwMgIlmoaM

To read Clifford Brooks' "Blues 'round Midnight," please follow this link:  http://thesongis.blogspot.com/2014/08/blues-round-midnight-and-meeting-old.html

Photographer -- Matthew Polsfuss

I'll mix up some Robert Johnson, Billie Holiday, and....

First, Robert Johnson:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7ZzfjRzZuk

Now  Billie Holiday...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUCyjDOlnPU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_1LfT1MvzI

And I think that's all I need....

Before I close, I want to thank Bea Garth, Ed Schelb, and Mary Judkins for their artwork.  Their images have added to this e-zine's appeal.  Also, Bea came up with the term, e-zine, that describes what this journal really is.  And I want to thank Felino A. Soriano for his many, many contributions to this e-zine and his publication of my review of Yusef Komunyakaa's Testimony, the book that helped start everything off:

http://www.counterexamplepoetics.com/2014/09/review-of-testimony-tribute-to-charlie.html

Good night....and next week I will post information about the fall contests!