Lyrics as Poetry: Jazz Vocalese with Greg Thomas

Lyrics, at their highest level, are poetry set to music, melodies made visible via words becoming song. Vocalese lyrics are special in jazz; they derive meaning and movement via the creation of songs from the solos of legendary jazz artists. This special presentation will feature works from NEA Jazz Master Jon Hendricks, the reigning king of vocalese.

“I would like to be remembered as a poet. That’s the highest level, because poetry is the highest use of the word. The language that one speaks attains its height in poetry; a person reads a great poem and his soul is ennobled.” Jon Hendricks