"Interval"

"These are separated by an interval by Paul Gonsalves." Duke Ellington, Newport 1956

They take "Diminuendo" slow
and mellow, cooling off the crowd
until the sax man starts to blow.

There is no score; it's jazz, you know
and improv is the mode allowed.
"Diminuendo" takes it slow,

you hear the band swing sweet and low.
It's not the blues, but blue's a cloud
that hovers til the sax man blows

the interval. He's got the flow.
He's got the groove. The drummer bowed
out from "Diminuendo," slow.

Up-tempo! Hear that sucker go!
They're dancing in the aisles, wowed
to hear the sax man when he blows.

After "Diminuendo"-- slow
the piece will end with "Crescendo"
but in between, the sax man blows
an "Interval" that's fast and loud!

Available! High-Voltage Lines, Knocking from Inside