Commentary on A Weaving of Traditions by JazZen

 

Last night my husband and I went to Sundin Hall on the campus of my alma mater, Hamline U, to see a performance by JazZen. The show was titled "A Weaving of Traditions," with the subtitle "The Spirit of Native American Flute - The Essence of Jazz." The quintet of musicians played drums, electric cello, electric guitar, and an assortment of Native American Indian flutes. Ojibway vocalist Lyz Jaakola, who also played percussion, sang in English and her native language. In-between pieces, Bobb Fantauzzo, the leader of the group, spoke about what Native American music and jazz have in common: "...oral transmission, repetition, the centrality of rhythm, syncopation and improvisation." The group played several pieces influenced by Native Americans Kid Ory, Frank Trumbauer, Don Cherry, and Oscar Pettiford, at times weaving traditional Native American music with the compositions of jazz greats such as Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck. The music was transcendent and will be recorded in my memory as one of the finest performances that I have ever had the privilege to attend. The performance was sponsored by KBEM Jazz88 radio. Sundin Hall is an elegant jewel box theater that seats about 300 and is one of my favorite music venues in the Twin Cities. Plus, parking is free and it's a short walk to Sundin Hall.

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Electricity

Electricity
brightens cities,
dims galaxies.

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The XXX Olympiad

Imagine being an Olympic athlete,
fast, buff, muscled and sleek.

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Yellow Swallowtail

Yellow swallowtail plays a toccata
gracefully feeding on pink monarda.

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Bluebirds

Bluebirds on the wire,
once endangered, nearly extinct,
feed on fat angleworms.

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Goldfinches

Goldfinches alight
on flower heads to eat seeds
and pluck green petals.

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Cages

Cages are for beasts,
not for chickens that ruffle
feathers and peck the ground.

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Wind

Wind ripples water,
water moves rock, rock slides down
crushing the town.  Silence.

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Turkey Vultures

 8 turkey vultures
circle the golf course, rising
high in the blue sky.

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Blue, green, red

When the sky turns blue
and the grass green, fine red
roses bloom in my heart.

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Grand parenting

There is nothing
more loveable that a grandchild
returning to its parents.

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Wheels of Justice

The wheels of justice
turn faster and hit fewer
bumps in the road
when the road
is made from gold.

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Acorn

An acorn is small
but then grows tall,
reaching for sky,
bidding earth good bye.

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Tortoises and Hare

Man, woman, and boy
walk the wood after rain -
tortoises and hare.
Silence, sunlight, glisten.

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End of Day

End of day comes
too soon in summer,  Too soon
in winter.  Too soon.

June

His words were sweet
but not as sweet as June
when the berries ripen.

Love

If a shoe hurts, remove it.
If a tooth hurts, pull it.
If love hurts, well, love hurts.

Independence Day

Soldiers fight
in far-off wars
so we the people 
can sleep tonight
and dream tomorrow.

Pauper’s Pocket

A pauper’s pocket
has a hole where coins
first come then quickly go.

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White Peony Tea

 
White peony tea
once served to royalty
now is sipped by thou and me.

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