Happy Friday!
I started my morning with yoga, meditation, and Reiki. My sun salutation practice was truly juicy. I listened to jazz musician Duke Ellington’s Black, Brown and Beige CD, a jazz symphony written for his first concert at Carnegie Hall, on January 23, 1943. I discuss Black, Brown and Beige in my debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One. His composition “Come Sunday” featuring Mahalia Jackson plays a key role. Click on the YouTube video below to listen to a part of the CD. It is one of my favorites!
Did you know Ellington’s full name was Edward Kennedy Ellington? He was born on April 29, 1899 to James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington in Washington, DC. He lived a long, creative, and fulfilling life as a pianist, composer, and band leader. FYI He led his band from 1923 until his death on May 24, 1974.
I also read a poetry quote by my literary mentor E. Ethelbert Miller that reminded me of Ntozake Shange’s Nappy Edges poetry book. I included Ethelbert’s quote in my new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery. Nappy Edges was the first poetry book I bought during my freshmen year at St. Elizabeth Seton High School (1978). Shange’s poetry inspired me. I discovered her creative work while watching her chorepoem for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.
Click on the my Cinchcast audio blog below to hear Ethelbert’s poetry quote, Shange’s poem, and my Twitter poetry (an excerpt from That Which Awakens Me) Enjoy!
When you think of jazz on a Fridays what songs come to mind?
Do you have any favorite poems about music? If so, what are the titles? Who are the poets?
Do you have a six-word memoir for Friday? My six-word memoir is Poetry. Jazz. Earth. Shange. Duke. Gaia. What do you think?
Have a great weekend!
Peace, Creativity, Compassion, Gratitude for Shange’s poetry, Duke’s jazz, and Gaia’s planet,
Ananda
Ananda Leeke 