Artwork by Keith Mallett.
๐ospel of the Fallen Angel
by Antonio Rocco S. (Rocco Valentini)
๐ ------------------------------------------------------------ What is music? ------------------------------------------------------------ Combustion. ------------------------------------------------------------ A mind darkened by the pitch of music ------------------------------------------------------------ Is easily set ablaze by the spark of reason; A Zippo lighting the tip of a dame's cigarette. ------------------------------------------------------------ ๐ ------------------------------------------------------------ Lucifer was Heaven's greatest musician ------------------------------------------------------------ As well as its wisest philosopher. ------------------------------------------------------------ The fallen angel whose charred wings ------------------------------------------------------------ Left behind a smoke signal for every genius not yet born; A neon sign calling out to a nocturnal crowd. ------------------------------------------------------------ ๐ ------------------------------------------------------------ Genius adheres to no sheet music ------------------------------------------------------------ Only pages of melody ------------------------------------------------------------ That create conversation ------------------------------------------------------------ To follow or branch from; A improv session from the brass. ------------------------------------------------------------ ๐ ------------------------------------------------------------ Jazz is the aesthetic synthesis ------------------------------------------------------------ Of the Apollonian and the Dionysian ------------------------------------------------------------ That arises out of the spirit of music. ------------------------------------------------------------ Jazz is proof that order can fall in love with chaos; A detective and a femme fatale can become husband and wife. ------------------------------------------------------------ ๐ ------------------------------------------------------------ Jazz is Luciferian ------------------------------------------------------------ Because in jazz there is no conductor or fixed score. ------------------------------------------------------------ Every ensemble is a dialogue ------------------------------------------------------------ Or a debate between musicians; A speakeasy where great minds come to jive. ------------------------------------------------------------ ๐ ------------------------------------------------------------ In a classical orchestra, the collective precedes the individual. ------------------------------------------------------------ You are an instrument of the band. ------------------------------------------------------------ In a jazz ensemble, the individual precedes the collective. ------------------------------------------------------------ You are a musician in the band; A name in lights instead of a name in credits. ------------------------------------------------------------ ๐ ------------------------------------------------------------ Jazz versus classical is stream of consciousness versus MLA. ------------------------------------------------------------ However, many in the swing era were guilty of holding a blue pen ------------------------------------------------------------ Until one wayward alto sax composed a certain ornithological piece ------------------------------------------------------------ That allowed those whose wings had been clipped To fly again. ------------------------------------------------------------