Celebrating Sue Mingus
Sean MurphySad to hear the news of Sue Mingus's passing, but am here to celebrate an incredible life fully led, with adventure and passion to spare. And for us jazz fans…
Sy Johnson: RIP
Let's face it. There were few human beings who could give Charles Mingus what he needed (what he wanted? the universe can't contain such multitudes and appetites); there were a…
Original Poem: Chet Baker’s Smog
It remains a blessing for this writer to find publications that “get” him --and what I'm attempting with my ongoing project (the first installment, of course, being The Blackened Blues,…
The American Cauldron
America has always been a cauldron of inconsistencies; so often in our history we’ve ended up with brilliance, tolerance, and progress only after every other option has been exhausted. We’re…
The Centennial of Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus had many things to say, and he used his mouth, his pen, his fists, and mostly his music to say them. Of the myriad words that describe Mingus, passionate would…
The Blackened Blues LIVE: Poetry and Music with Sean Murphy and Quentin Walston
The Barns of Rose Hill partnered with 1455 Literary Arts for a special reading with Sean Murphy, who read from his new collection The Blackened Blues, accompanied by pianist Quentin…
Original Poem: John Coltrane’s Ascent
Who wouldn't be published in a journal named The Decadent Review? I would (and fortunately, have already done so). As such, it's with great joy that I see my poem…
Original Poem: Thelonious Monk’s Moods
Coats and Hats / Thelonious Monk by Martel Chapman Once again gratitude to the good team at Jerry Jazz Musician for championing my work. This poem actually appeared late last…
Original Poem: Sun Ra’s Spaceship
Sun Ra's music sounds like it was intercepted from another world. Big thanks to Jerry Jazz Musician for continuing to publish poems about jazz, and it's my extreme pleasure to…
1455 PRESENTS: A READING & CONVERSATION WITH SEAN MURPHY, AUTHOR OF ‘THE BLACKENED BLUES’
My thanks to poet, photographer, arts advocate, and dear friend Justen Ahren for putting me in the hot seat, for a change, and talking about my new collection THE BLACKENED BLUES. Aside from…