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Jazz and the Money Jungle

Todd Clouser

wall

The same thing happens everywhere
Money Jungle is perfect, of the skin, maybe the pulse
On the night no one talks about
A day before New Years, in Panama City

Crooked toe cranes light the canal
Where the mountains mumble down to
Lows talk to the stomping mallets vicious kiss of the strings in the wood, on the 
black, spit the music around the air
         How don't they laugh at beauty
             When it happens so madly?

           Switch Blade, What happened after they fade on Charles?

We may be document obsessed 
But this was one worth holding onto
Give it to our great grandchildren's nephews
When they are on their way to the stars
Remember, people spoke the notes, from the heart to the head to the fingers, 
out the miracle

Ah jazz, why did they put you in the schools?
And murder you with the desperate cursive of intellect

                    !They saw the money! 

Everyone sees the money. 
It is the end of despair, the money. 
Or at least something to talk about in the vacant spirit of vanity.
                     Not for you, not for you. For the never belongers. 
The money run. Right, Money Jungle. Duke. Desperate everywhere, going where. 
           I live in this song, covered by its cymbals when the hurricanes come.

        The jazz makers stay 
                          still in their naked pursuit of the illusionless. 
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Todd Clouser

A young, genre-defying guitarist, composer, and writer, Todd Clouser is an accomplished musician across the creative music spectrum, leading a unique path to recognition as an act to watch, finding his own voice performing with musicians from Keb Mo to "downtown" NYC jazz legend Steven Bernstein. Clouser's impassioned performances run from piano balladry to dense jazz and groove, exciting audiences with an approach meant to bend the rules of artistic labeling. "A Love Electric" documents Todd's most aggressive ensemble yet, an energetic group based in the stylings of 70's era electric musics. The February 2013 release of The Naked Beat, Clouser's third album of the year, marks the first record to feature his wildly engaging vocals. Think Zappa meets Burroughs with the songwriting sensibilities of Beck and Hendrixian guitar heroics. Clouser is an original, always evolving, and always honest to the spirit of the imagination. In addition to Todd's website, you can find him on Twitter and YouTube.

Author: Todd Clouser Tags: jazz, poetry Category: Poetry January 7, 2014

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Empty Mirror

Established in 2000 and edited by Denise Enck, Empty Mirror is an online literary magazine that publishes new work each Friday.

Each week EM features several poems each by one or two poets; reviews; critical essays; visual art; and personal essays.

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