Remembering Horace Tapscott: Capturing the Rhythms

...in commensuration of the 1965 Watts Rebellion (Aug 11th)

REMEMBERING HORACE TAPSCOTT:

CAPTURING THE RHYTHMS

His notes were flying
like they was light
and darkness combined;
like they was the laughter of those
who refused to be confined.
~~~~~
His notes were flying
like rainbows, dissipating
then emerging again, sharper
against synchronized time;
like they had just seen the
beauty of a swinging Black Hole.
~~~~~~
His notes were flying
in the melodies of people's lives.
Colors woven tightly
as they spoke in tongues of
blues, jazz, spirituals
and hip-hop jive.
Each voice, each color
was the rhythm of shimmering lucidity
and resistance activity.
His notes were flying,
driving the flames higher
in joyous rebellion
and crimson skies.
'Hey man, the people are celebrating
and they need music.'
Hot and jazzy
sounds of sweet
fiery heat.
Cooled only by the smiles
on the faces of people's liberation.
~~~~~
Watts,
hot kiloWatts
electro shocks
1965
the fires licked the skies;
captured in his notes
as they fly
into the people's eyes.
You should have heard them smile.
Molotovs
bullets
the swirling notes
of Tapscott's Pan-Afrikan People's Arkestra
chased them piggies away.
Rejoice!
Hallelujah!
the people had some justice
for a few days.
Tripping on all them notes;
dreaming how nice things
will be when the people have their final say.
~~~
Ol Tapscott, he say
'We gotta give them music.'
And his notes were flying
like smiles
on the faces of people's liberation.

~~redzone~~

Author's Note

thanks for reading.... this poem was written shortly after the passing of the jazz pianist Tapscott. In the midst of the Watts rebellion he and his Afrikan Arkestra loaded up a flatbed truck and played music for the people rebelling in Watts... here is a sample of his innovative jazz style..

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

Your words have a catchy rhythm in this one, Curt. Music is the soundtrack of our lives....the beat and the blues of it all. Yes, there is a certain freedom in the music.....and you have used it in your poetry. Music can energize a movement and give courage to people. Nice work here! Lydi**

[Ruth]

Exceptional poetry. The cascade of fluidity and pace within this poem is remarkable. Audibly moving and cleverly crafted...

[redzone]

so nice to see you in this poem Ruth and such a wonderful comment, thank you.... and thanks for noticing the "fluidity", espcecially in the 2nd verse, where I tried to give a sense of the joy as well as the beat of the rebellion.... there literally was music and dancing in the streets, the people were celebrating and for a brief moment in time (6 days) people smiled....

so glad you stopped by Ruth...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Masterful piece capturing the movement...the music of it....all that has been given to us by black musicians...all that jazz, all those blues...
the rhythm of the saints, I feel.
I was tapping my feet to this.
j.

[redzone]

thanks Jacob, much of the love and tenderness as well as sadness in our culture has come from the contributions of Black folks.... and not as minstrals, but as human beings...

one of the reasons I added one of his songs/arrangements to this poem was to show how his music (and in general) flows from the lives of people as well as aesthetics.... and that he believed that it was important to give back to the people the hope of a different world.....

anyway thank you for your comments Jacob, I'm glad you got into the poem and was "tapping" your feet....