It took some time to lay this one out, as Jazz has unique elements. Jazz is a very complex musical genre. Because of its improvised nature, with multiple melodies and rhythms working together, listeners accustomed to more structured, predictable forms of music might find Jazz difficult to follow. The same is true for the Jazz Sonnet. It tends to break many Sonnet rules. Jazz ensembles, which can have two to 20 players, range in style, size and instrumentation, but they are all united by three basic elements: improvisation, syncopation and blue notes. These traits must translate to the poetry then, in rhyme, rythmn, and meter. Also, a Jazz poem must be about the music. From the very beginning, Jazz has been about freedom, movement and individual expression. Its break from musical tradition and emphasis on improvisation and innovation set it up as the backdrop to cultural changes. So here is my interpretation of a Jazz Sonnet.

This is a Jazz Sonnet.
A Jazz Sonnet has the familiar layout of a traditional Sonnet with its first 12 lines seperated into 3 Quatrains and a closing rhymed couplet. However, none of the lines in the stanzas have an even syllable count, making iambic verse difficult. This promotes discordance (blue notes?). But there is rhyme, it's just not what you'd typically find. You'll see elements that play against each other, while others blend. Afterall, Jazz sought to be different. Each Jazz Sonnet is unique in style, meter, and rhyme. So be creative.

For this poem the syllable count is:
11,9,11,5-- 11,13,13, 7--11,7,9,9--4,4
The rhyme scheme is:
abab cdde ecff gg

This picture is from Yahoo Images.

You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.