Mood Indigo

...a little jazz for the soul

Mood Indigo

 

 

that mood indigo

stealing down to my shoes

 

Ellington made jazz

so blue

but Ella made it flow,

just so

that i

 

could lay me down

and die.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

I thought long and hard for a follow-up to my mom's '57 Chevy. Than it came to me, the music back then. The jazz, of Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald. My parents were both influenced by it, so I asked Alexa to play it for me...my, my, my. You ain't been blue till you've heard this song!

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Fabulous pairing and Ella’s scat singing and interpretation of lyrics remain ace today. There will only ever be one Ella. You have captured a musical era for me with your words as well as bringing my parents back. Both lovers of jazz. A treat to read Kelly.

Chris

[Kelly Scheppers]

What a musical era it was. I was hoping to evoke some appreciation, and you've given it to me. Thank you, Chris.

[Buddhistboy73]

Mood Indigo...I love jazz music so was interested to read this poem Kelly......
Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.....etc...

Thanks for sharing your "mood indigo".....it resonated with me and I'm sure many others....

Music has the power to lift the soul.......

BB73

[Michael Sun Bear]

We didn’t have much music in the home in which I grew up. However I have loved the jazz vocalists of that era pretty much my entire adult life, and you know, I have no idea now where I would have first been exposed to it. We used to have a great NPR jazz station in our area, so maybe it was the car radio. When I go to bed tonight, I am going to put on headphones, go to Spotify, and listen to Mood Indigo!

[Kelly Scheppers]

Make sure you listen to Ella singing it! I'm anxious to hear when you think. Thanks, Michael!

[Michael Sun Bear]

Her voice is like the finest cognac, her phrasing impeccable, the tempo so perfect and calming it is close to a heroin nod.

[Kelly Scheppers]

...the finest cognac, indeed! What a lovely reference, Michael!

[Ted Kniffen]

I had the prilege of seeing Sarah Vaughan and Oscar Peterson live ... amazing performers.
I was quite fortuante in that I came out of the Big Band era ... the tail end really ... and I have enjoyed so many genres of music that it's hard to believe.
Clasical is still my go to on Sundays.

Mood Indigo ... even the title is a standout.

Well done Kelly

[Kelly Scheppers]

I'm discovering a genre of music that my parents listened to. How cool is that? I have a two disc CD set of Linda Ronstadt with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, where she performs those torch songs of the Big Band era. I got hooked on it when I worked in a record store, which gave me such an appreciation for all genre's of music. I never tapped into Classical, though. I guess you just can't dance to Beethoven! Thanks, Ted!

[An owl on the moon]

This poem feels like a song itself... smooth, aching, and unforgettable. The rhythm echoes jazz, low and blue. I love how it weaves Ellington and Ella into the verse, capturing both the beauty and melancholy of jazz. The closing lines linger like the last notes of a record... quiet, haunting, and deeply human.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Thank you, Craig. I appreciate your being here after all you're going through.

[Pete]

very cool to say the least. quite the strong, telling ending. i can hear it playing now.

[Kelly Scheppers]

It's quite a revelation to discover the music my parents were listening to as teenagers. Ella's voice sure was magical! Thanks, Pete!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Never been a jazz fan, but this poem is so agreeable...in a musical sort of way.

Satchamo would have appreciated this.

j.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Your presence is most appreciated, J. Thank you!

[Richard🖌]

Oh-MY, Dear Kelly! 👏

He-uh ya come agin' 🎷 yer golden pen🖌 stealin' air from m'musical flair 🎼 liftin' its lilt ♫ 'n scattin' 🎤 it there 🎶
Close those sparklin' azure blues 'n give this'n a smooth glist'nin' listen from Ella 'n tha Duke:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlCDIuASObM&list=RDPlCDIuASObM&start_radio=1

I love it when ya let loose 'n get profuse with that jazzy beat of your trumpet's bleat 🎺 sendin' m'soul soarin'.

Thank you, Kelly Dear, for composing such a swingin' atmosphere … you blend past 'n present into a magically intoxicating, musical elixir! ⁓ Richard 🎸

[redzone]

It doesn't get any better than Fitzgerald and Ellington, unless you are listening to this music as you read Kelly's poem. "Just a slow blue as blue can be." My Mom loved Dave Brubeck and would play his "Take 5" while ironing. When I was handed the chore of ironing as part of earning my allowance, I listened to jazz, Count Bassie, Billie Holiday. They were also part of Mom's jazz record collection. Isn't it funny how these jazz giants then paved the way for Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Stanley Jordan, Art Blakey, Lester Bowie, and Luc Ponte, among others?

This is a really sweet poem, Kelly. I enjoyed the sway of it, the feel of the words and the reminiscence. Music moves the soul and jazz moves the feet and heart towards love.
-Curt

I loved how the song flowed down the your shoes, Kelly. So I must ask, wanna dance? ;0)

[Kelly Scheppers]

I had the chore of ironing, too. How funny. Those giants did pave the way for so many artists, but to listen to them today, still stirs something inside, the way that it was meant to all those years ago. I imagine turning the radio on in my mom's '57 Chevy, and hearing them. I'd love to dance, but I must insist on being barefoot! Lol, thank you so much, Curt!

[redzone]

Bare feet, no problem, as long as i can go bare foot as well.

[Dave W.]

This was a great poem, I love the depth you reached. I felt this.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Thank you, Dave. It's good to see some jazz lovers out there!

[Dave W.]

If you have never heard him Louis Cole is amazing. He is a cross between jazz and funk

[Davidgeo]

Don't forget about Charlie Parker... How High the Moon with Ella is one of my favorite versions of the standard. (i'm a sucker for the brass) www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTlqG3AP8ag

[Kelly Scheppers]

He was an influential jazz saxophonist. I love the brass, too. I'll give a listen to "How High the Moon". Thanks for the insight!