i hear the sounds of mingus

~for charlie mingus
Wrote this, as I listened in my mind to his 'better git it in your soul', from his a u m record.
 I had the pleasure of seeing charlie in his later years at the vanguard in '74,
which would be the beginning of my life long love of jazz.

i hear the sounds of mingus,
as cats wake me at two forty five
thinking of the a u m record
better git it in your soul

charlie was saying
to capture the joy
wherever you are

to listen to all the grace
notes flying high in the sky
choose carefully- then make

it move, make it groove, make
it be love making on a higher
level- this non-stop bebop

in your soul, sweeping
boundaries melting under
your feet--toe tapping

no rushing ahead, no
lingering behind
know your one

and two, your three
four five- come with
the wind walloping,

popping, parading
pressing through
darkened dead air corridors-

pushing out all that sounds familiar
go crazy with the beat
sweat like hell in the heat

no longer hearing
the melody, man
we have just

entered sound
and there is no
end to the madness

this mystery magic
music on high
angels begin to bebop

in the sweet soaring
elegance swirls through
as we forget all we've learned

and focus on
letting time decide
a surrendering- sheer truth

cannot hide--it's all about
the journey, man...
let's ride!

words/photo~kate lamberg (c) '15