for milt jackson (15)

for milt jackson
(1923 --1999)

a “rhapsodic melodist”
some have described u,
with those big puffy bags
beneath yr big, serious
eyes, yr sweet inimitable,
opulent tone, those fluid,
executions above all &

before all else swinging.

& those countless other

bags from whence u came.

yr integrated attack, free-

flowing in structure or

tightly unstructured if

u saw fit, featuring a

range of highly contrasted

moods & color but always

resolving/dissolving in the

blues, always yielding an

undercurrent of radiance

beneath slow cleverly

paced solos however bright

or darkly hued or a brilliant

sheen on the shimmering

surface structure of dazzling

melodic runs. yr cool stance

& unpostured mastery, never

looking stiff, never playing

from yr elbows. yr succinct

palms-inward two-mallet grip

coaxing out those sanctified

singing vocal lines or striking

those bebop, hard & post

boppish riffs, lavishing yr

soulfully elegant attention
like a skilled lover on yr
beloved instrument, striking
low notes softly in the

erogenous center of the

bar, playing near the node

in poignant phrasing, bowing,

pitchblending, setting new &

unequaled expressive standards

for vibraphonic virtuosity.

© Joseph McNair;2010