ASTRID GILBERTO & THE BRAZILIAN JAZZ BAND by RODRIGO VILLEGAS
Brazilian Jazz
The Runaway thing
Besetting a world to new motion
Nine men
Its base
Slicing inroads
Taunt unfamiliarity
Two bold sax
Set a pace
Interwinding chimes
Slowing down as in between thoughts
Then off again
Frantic haste
Cushioned upon idle pinao
Pringling
Crisscross rattlers are its backbone
Astrud comes to fore
Spins the world and lets it flow
Astrud glides on streams of flute
Flute rides Astrud now
Mas que nade
Astrud in white communion gown
Bares arms frim so tan
Astrud works on scarcity of note
Assuming center roll
Where lies timidity now?
Herbie Mann hones his flute
To slide on Astrud curves
Rios in New York
Quick oleanders
Tip toe sticks on brass
Solo sax reassures
Hints of Coleman
Transpires trumpets
Carries Astrud to the rain Bowed Sky
Conched fingers conspire
With black keys
I follow you to bold new themes
Grim midnights
Your longing hips sway
Astrudlike
Your shy waters call carnival
Brazil snakes back its Amazon
Banana Bread, Banana Bread
Banana, Banana, Banana Bread
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Photo by Alan Goodin
Rodrigo Villegas is a retired seaman, born in New York of Costa Rican parents.