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New Jazz Poets

Various Artists
New Jazz Poets

A unique subgenre, the history of jazz poetry runs parallel to the musical movement, in which jazz and its artists serve as a muse for the authors. This collection of New Jazz Poets represents the evolution of this art form after several decades of its practice and includes celebrated poets Ishmael Reed, Peter La Farge, Joel Oppenheimer and Paul Blackburn, who are each capable of making jazz heard by using words alone.

*Content Advisory: The title and lyrics of track 208 contain derogatory language. While it is offensive to us, we have chosen for the song titles to remain as published and interpreted in the time period in which they were written. We believe that to do otherwise would be to change a historical document. The “n word” was commonplace for a time in history, especially during the era of Jim Crow. Its circulation and popularization through blackface minstrelsy became associated with the identity of Black people in a white supremacist society.
For our policy on controversial recordings, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Track Listing

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101
Jitterbugging in the Streets Calvin Hernton 05:58
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102
The Second Coming John Morgan 01:53
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103
Autumn, 1964 Peter La Farge 02:41
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104
March on the Delta Art Berger 01:12
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105
From the Valley of the Shadows Ree Dragonette 01:07
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106
If I Ride This Train Joe Johnson 01:32
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107
African Memories Joel Oppenheimer 01:39
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108
Lady Day Spring Ronald Stone 03:25
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109
Listening to Sonny Rollins At the Five-Spot Paul Blackburn 01:08
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201
Canto 4, Six Cylinder Olympus Percy Johnson 00:57
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202
The Jackal Headed Cowboy Ishmael Reed 03:12
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203
Kauri Will Inman 02:04
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204
Elvin Jones Gretch Freak David Henderson 05:43
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205
Poem to Americans Gerald Jackson 01:58
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206
Poems From Oklahoma Allen Katzman 00:57
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207
Gyre's Galax Norman Pritchard 01:51
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208
Asian Nigger* George Preston 02:31
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209
Poem for Adolph Eichman John Harriman 01:25
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210
I Am a Multitude Allen De Loach 02:52
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211
To Jackie In Jail Stephen Tropp and Howard Hart 03:09
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212
Poem to Ernie Henry Gloria Tropp 01:12