for miles davis

remembering miles dewey davis
(1926 - 1994)

that sweet round sound with plenty attitude;
that plaintive voice without much tremolo
or bass – so tight, so right – just hear miles blow
a lightning riff or soulful platitude.
he claims the right amount of latitude
to soar the bebop high, then bring it low
or fecundate a modal theme & grow
tumescent, full of grace & amplitude;
to stroke the womb of freedom yet again
to sire the cool & bring it forth to swing
its lusty cry – real cool, the joy, the pain
exhaled through lips compressed – a living thing;
the shape of sounds to come – a vision, plain,
& for a thousand hearts to play & sing.

©Joseph McNair; 2008