Carlos Alcaraz
plays tennis the way Ol’ Satchmo played jazz;
so creative, so talented, having so much fun,
and now he’s a two-time Wimbledon champion.
Louis Armstrong …
a class by himself
Not Dixie or Jazz
but much deeper felt
Growing better with age
his music enthralls
If fourteen or forty
his melodies call
Both Ella and Ray
are seated out front
As Satchmo delivers
when others exeunt
Timelessly treasured
he’d broken the mold
Of what sound can measure
—and a smile can hold
(Dreamsleep: December, 2023)
Etta was predicting
Stormy Weather
As Ray freed his
Seven Spanish Angels
Roy asked are you still
Running Scared
But Ella was smiling and
Watching Over Me
Peggy gave me that look asking
Is That All There Is
But Kris stepped in to
Help Me Make It Through The Night
Willy reminding us all
How Time Slips Away
As Hank made his entrance
That Lonesome Whistle Blowing
Bobby was still bleeding from
Mack The Knife
As Frank flew in on
A Summer Wind
Aretha was breaking
That Chain Of Fools
While BB cried out
The Thrill Is Gone
Smoky was drowning in
The Tears Of A Clown
And Sam kept promising
A Change Is Gonna Come
As the Fat Man looked down
from Blueberry Hill
Elvis chased the
Hound Dog out the back door
But Brenda had our
Emotions running high
When Satchmo assured us
—It’s A Wonderful World
(Dreamsleep: October, 2023)
From afar a sound of "Blues" so tender
Like Satchmo strumming his trumpet
His loud voice calling us together
Makes me in verses break into yesterday
Oh Louis...raise your voice to everyone
Make the trumpet's call sound loud
Chase away the fears of the crowd
And those outside who think they're alone
Oh Louis... now release the husky voice
Nice and slow, neither hot nor cold
Let it come in that bittersweet jazz
That speaks of the wonders of this world
Alberto Secama 15 May 2020
Just listen to Satchmo,
Jams by Duke Ellington,
James Clay's moving tenor
John Coltrane's fine Post-Bop
Joyous uptempo tunes...
Jiggle hips like Jello!
Jump and jive, why don't cha?
Pleiades 2 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Joseph May
Date written: 10/15/2020
Note: "Satchmo" is the nickname of late, great Jazz legend, Louis Armstrong.
Jamming geniuses - Wow!
Jitterbugging soul feels
joyous, with not a care!
Jovial Satchmo swings,
Joe Pass, Ella, Miles, Bird
join: samba, bebop, blues -
Jazz, a heaven on earth!
Written 13 Oct 2020
Sang like a whippoorwill, up high on a hill
Played trumpet like Satchmo, with panache and skill
To watch that man tap-dance, gave even Gregory Hines a thrill
As Ella Fitzgerald told us, 'Sammy's pure talent' distilled
November 07, 2019
Your Favorite Artist Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Chantelle Anne Cooke
______________________________________________
Notes:
1. See 'The Birth of the Blues,' (movie) c. 1955, b & w,
to view Sammy's exceptional singing, trumpet
playing, and tap-dancing ability. (4:39 clip)
2 See 'Tap,' (movie clip) 1981, to view Gregory Hines,
a remarkable tapper himself, in awe of Sammy's
(and his friends') tap-dancing.
3 See clip of 'Ed Sullivan Show,' 1964, (3 minutes,
27 seconds) to see Ella introduce Sammy as 'pure
talent,' and then to view their incredible jazz singing.
Ya Need to Treat Me Better I'm Old But Not Dead Yet---
I don't need your pity;
I ate no OLD bitty;
Don't serve me no soup or smashed peas
I got this, child keep me a steak, these are my real teeth;
Turn down that T V, what's ya so close to for STOP yelling I CAN hear?
If ya ain't careful I'll slap yo face;
This stuff ya listen to today a disgrace
Give me Ella, Satchmo, or Della
And boy wha' your wearN pull thm pants up
I don't wanna see yo underwear
And girl when ya gonna comb that hair
Must be somethin bout bein old
Cause I look round me
THIS is all I'm told
This ole young world best go back and do what the good book said
Yes! I'M OLD CHILD BUT I'M NOT DEAD
Now git here at this table and pass me my toast and jam
JJust an old trumpet player with a worn out horn –
Seems he had played it ever since he was born.
Sometimes his lively music put dancing in your feet.
Then there were times he rendered tones so tranquil and so sweet.
So many came to follow this magic little man
That soon he was known as the best in music land.
He drew the best unto him and formed a little band
And added perfect talent to the world of Dixieland.
Sometimes he would sing a little verse or two
And he would make it sound like it was just for you.
He was known the whole world over - heaven watched him too
And his music was so soulful it could sometimes make you blue.
In his life we witnessed greatness only artists can provide
And even heaven’s angels cried the day sweet Louis died.
Some say even Gabriel didn’t know how to behave
The day we put old ‘Satchmo’ in his grave.
So, gentle trumpet man, may you always rest in peace
We recall an instant, when you left us, all the music ceased.
Written by John Posey
9/11/14
As I dusted off an old jazz LP
A musical genie appeared to me
With seven notes in his hand
And a wish for each one
So I wished to see some singers and bands
Then I traveled back in time
On a C note
To hear the great jazz bands of old
My first stop was with the Count
Count Basie caressed the piano
As the saxophone turned out gold
The bass guitar was strumming away
And I listened to Billie Holiday
As she sang 'Blue Moon'
I then hitched a ride on a D note
And that took me to see the Duke
As I watched him tickle the ivories
I was taken for a ride on the A train
Where I heard him play Moon River
I left the train on an E note
To see Ella Fitzgerald sing
I did not want to depart
Until she sang "Cry you out of my heart"
Then a G note took me away
So I could hear Nina Simone play
I still had a few notes to spare
As Nina sang "My baby don't care.......
Before I left, I wanted to see one last show
So the B note took me to see Louie Satchmo
With his trumpet blaring
To "When the saints go marching in"
It was a great musical affair
And I rode home on the melodic notes
of the great trumpeteer
This has to be New Orleans’ favorite song.
It was made popular by the late Louis Armstrong.
Although Satchmo is no longer around.
we can always hear this immortal sound.
The tune is beloved by fans of jazz.
Bands play it with a lot of pizzazz.
It possibly has the most beautiful melody
with perhaps the exception of “Hello Dolly”.
big satchmo
renowned jazz
pops
In Loving Memory Of
Louis Daniel Armstrong {Satchmo Or Pops}
{Aug 4th 1901 - July 6th 1971}
Also Entry For Brian Strand's Spetimal Fun Contest
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