Mingus Ah Um

Nineteen fifty-nine –

1-9-5-9 – things changed.

Coltrane took Giant Steps –

Miles was Kind of Blue

and Brubeck played

with Time.

Ornette shaped Jazz

and Mingus . . . Ah UM.

swings and shouts —

offers accolades

to the roots of Jazz —

to Jelly Roll, The Duke

and Sonny Rollins —

Slow, sad blues

for Lester Young,

Tars & feathers for Faubus,

“so sick and ridiculous —

an All-American Heel.”

Better Git it

in Your Soul —

this Gospel of the Blues

this Sunday Swing —

six/8 aerobatics —

Jazz that had Miles say

“Mingus was somthin’ else —

a pure genius, man.

I loved him.”

Ah Um!

Russell duPont