A Trumpet Break Through: Which Can Happen With Any Horn Or Ax

For: Dominic and Aurora Lewis

it’s tough

in jazz

to play better

as in doing

anything else better.

*****

while in high school

(my lips bled red

several times

on the silver of the mouthpiece),

just trying to reach

high notes on the trumpet.

*****

so, sometimes … when practicing

more & more & more

nothing inches forward …

*****

then one day, you hear

stay with it! stay with it!

it’s that great gnarly

sweat of jazz … when you discover

a certain sound

and know there’s a magic in this.

*****

if you once

play into a“break through”

you will never

stop practicing,

and believing in yourself:

to play better

for ever.