At the Famous (Famous Ballroom, Baltimore Md/RIP)
i absorbed the
sweat
from Art Blakey’s
hand
felt the bebop
on Dizzy’s shoulder
ran from a giant
known as
Dexter Gordon
ate watermelon
with Sun Ra
in the back room
while discussing
alphabetic equations
this shrine
forever lives
in my mind –
it will ever exist
in between logical,
architectural lines
and historic designs
the Art Ensemble of Chicago
offered new levels
and degrees of light
through sound
Baird Hersey’s band,
The Year of the Ear
filled the cranium
with ballitstic Jazz-Funk
unheard of
to this day
Jack DeJohnette
and Arthur Blythe
ushered in
Future Traditions
of tonal precision –
audio-revelations
of refined
time and spirit
incantations
and, oh, the Soul Food
for the body, mind,
and Spiritual energy
this shrine
forever lives
in my mind –
its star-lit ceiling
and its special feeling
will ever exist
in between logical,
architectural lines
and historic designs
Horace Silver, Chico Freeman,
Woody Shaw, and Johnny Griffin
were also among the great ones
who baptized me with a rhythmic, cosmic welcome
at the Famous
(The Famous Ballroom, Charles Street)