Poet Billy Collins on Jazz & Poetry—part 1

Billy Collins is a modern poetry phenomenon. The former U.S., and New York State, Poet Laureate, Collins is one of the most-read poets anywhere—and also happens to be a lifelong jazz fan. In this episode, and in a second to follow next week, he and Bob Hecht talk about the interrelationships of music and poetry, he reads a number of his jazz-related poems, and we hear some of the jazz pieces that have inspired him.

Billy Collins is the author of numerous books of poetry, and in addition to his poet laureate honors, his awards include the Mark Twain Prize for Humor in Poetry, as well as fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the New York Foundation of the Arts. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Playlist

“To Monk, With Love” Barry Harris“Sing, Sing, Sing” Benny Goodman Orchestra“Ruby, My Dear” Thelonious Monk“The Way You Look Tonight” Sonny Rollins with Thelonious Monk

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