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World Stage Jam

By Rex Butters
June 19, 2004
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some seasoned players
mostly young
their saxophones slung at hour hand angles
lightning rods bringing the sound to ground
wait at electrified attention
to play with the small stage piano
eyes unfocused listen
learn
blow their hearts out a horn
break the chains of Sonny and Trane
reinvent the language a phrase at a time
bite the reed to the rubber
breathe warm life into cold brass
alchemy
then back benched bathed in offstage light
pensive patience
prays to find
salvation in a song

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