Michael Harper
Blues For A Colored Singer:Milt Jackson
Church music never got over it
now called ‘the blues’ vocalizer
found speed control early as singer
vibrato like no one else made you Dizzy
called back by Dizzy in the 50’s
known to be a player of blinding speed
yet Bird’s teachings explicit practice at home
Dizzy’s examples make each note make sense
(two makes: one descriptive; one constructive
a tone of space miscalled third stream)
Monk left room Miles left mansions
John too mellow in vests Percy at home at hommes
my mother turned on your version only
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” at Christmas
her mass: full stop! Django with few fingers
no hands yet Bag’s Groove slight hangover
which stuck on your vines liked you recorded abroad
symbiotic crossbreeding instruments happenstraight
no chaser Detroit called ‘destroy’
Joe Louis diction sitting in with all players
singing the blues under your breath
right out loud slowing down perfect pitch
in vestrymen conversation
never heard such talk in all registers votive
banditry in the octaves
overtones in song undertreads as thresholds
I loved you on piano tranesaxophone
vibrobasshit monkingus
chorus praxis dizzynote
homemade choruses nonsensical force made wholesome