The Jazz Poetry Anthology

by Sascha Feinstein (Editor), Yusef Komunyakaa (Editor)

" . . . in a class by itself . . . sensitive, moving, and powerful jazz imagery . . . the perfect companion to listening to good jazz." ―Jazziz Magazine

"In the course of the history of jazz, there have been only a few articles that get to the core of the meaning of jazz. These poems hit it right on the head, and the book is certainly essential for anyone who is interested in our music." ―Dizzy Gillespie

"To those interested in the impact of jazz upon the poetry of our century I recommend this anthology altogether without reservation." ―John Lucas, JazzTimes

" . . . essential . . . Its virtues are varied and copious, and not the least among them is discovering a writer whose work is new to you." ―Los Angeles Reader

"What makes this work most enjoyable is knowing the music and musicians and using that knowledge to understand and judge the poets' reactions to the elements in the music that please and inspire us." ―MultiCultural Review

"Filled with a variety of form, rhythm, and sound, this anthology is an absolute MUST for anyone who is even remotely interested in jazz and modern literature." ―David Baker

Since the turn of the century, poets have responded to jazz in all its musical and cultural overtones. The poems here cover the range of jazz from early blues to free jazz and experimental music. Among the 132 poets included are James Baldwin, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Langston Hughes, Jack Kerouac, Mina Loy, Ishmael Reed, and Sonia Sanchez. This anthology represents the broad appreciation for jazz as poetic inspiration, not only from the Beat movement but from writers across the decades and around the world.

Genres: Poetry, Music, Anthologies

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1991

Reviews

[Jason Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great way to start 2021, combining two loves- jazz and poetry. The verses flowed perfectly listening to music and with interesting, relevant references as well.

[Benito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lenny Bruce was accused early in his career of spending all his time trying to make the musos laugh, when he wrote about this later he said it was because jazz musicians appreciated abstract concepts more readily than most people, as that was what modern jazz was all about - abstract improvisation. This is probably why poets, particularly the beat poets of the bebop era, have always been drawn to jazz. Poetry is the jazz of writing. Hence these poems, influenced by jazz and using it's rhythms, beats and feels, really flowed for me. I flick through it occasionally as it helps me locate the musicality in my writing.

[Trey Rogge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only complaint is that the poems are alphabetical by author and not chronological - which most anthologies are. Anyway, this collection is worth it, especially for Mina Loy's badass poem "The Widow's Jazz" and Yusef's profound "Elegy for Thelonious."

[aloveiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's to summer nights that feel good enough to call anything jazz.