When Ornette played the blues
He blew with passion not fashion
Freeing jazz from restriction
With conviction
Energising his need
With fresh blown reed
New wave harmolodics
No time histrionics
Jazz played free
Can’t you see

Now Wynton
The jazz that you play today
It don’t have to be that way
It’s cold not cool
It’s old you fool
Those Lincoln Centre stuffed shirts
Will never make that gig work
Don’t play their part
Get to the heart
Forget history admit mystery

Mr Pine with your hip-hop
You don’t know when it’s time to stop
That new mix is all froth
Too many licks can spoil that broth
Holding one note without breath
Is causing a jazz death
There’s no need to showboat
It’s cut throat

So young people
Who play right now
Take a knife to that sacred cow
With free expression
Every session
Just cut out the excess
Don’t blow to impress
Move forward your own way

Just play