"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." ― R. Buckminster Fuller

This song " The revolution will not be televised " is more accurate than ever and my article is a personal tribute to a great musician, a master of jazz poetry, Gil Scott Heron ( RIP ). 

 Gilbert "Gil" Scott-Heron (April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011) was an American soul and jazz poet, musician, and author, known primarily for his work as a spoken-word performer in the 1970s and 1980s.- Wikipedia

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In my early twenties, I discovered poets like him and listened to his songs and his album Small Talk at 125th and Lenox ( 1970) on repeat. It sounds a bit odd for a white girl from Austria:) but there was some kind of emotion in his words I felt intrigued by. 

Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime. ― Aristotle

I felt compassion for the pain, injustice and a dream to live in America one day, was born. I made it to New York in the mid 80's hanging out in some hidden, maybe a bit dangerous Harlem backdoor joints, more and less famous jazz clubs, meeting incredible musicians of those days and lived days and nights to the fullest, mostly ending up at Bradleys, downtown Manhattan (we called it Sadleys) for the late hours sounds. This legendary club died in 1996.

Quietly, Sorrowfully, A Jazz Club Dies : Rumors of Bradley's demise had been in the air for so long that the club's final night, on Thursday, felt not like a wake or a party but just business as usual. Maybe the loss of their favourite haunt was too much to absorb in one night. It's a loss that can't be overestimated. Jazz has so few fixed concert halls that clubs like Bradley's are its real addresses. Since 1969, this little spot on University Place in Greenwich Village has been part jazz headquarters, part jazz college, part exhibition hall. Young musicians learned their craft playing next to masters here. And the club's intimacy, with its 15 tables and 20 barstools, made the performances special, as if the musicians were playing in a living room, for themselves and by themselves.

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We'd like to do a thing that was written down on this sheet of paper
That I didn't go in to 

It's called "Evolution" 

And in the middle of it, in this poem called "Evolution"
We're going to interject something called "Flashback"

BBC Documentary

I never had the chance to see Gil perform live and nearly caught one of his last shows in Oakland shortly before he died. I came late. 

He is one of the heavy weight of real music and I am so grateful for his timeless sound and powerful words of deep feelings and emotion. Thanks for letting the world and me enjoy it forever. 

Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

The revolution will not be right back after a message about a white tornado, white lightning, or white people.
You will not have to worry about a dove in your bedroom, a tiger in your tank, or the giant in your toilet bowl.
The revolution will not go better with Coke.
The revolution will not fight the germs that may cause bad breath.
The revolution will put you in the driver's seat.
The revolution will not be televised, will not be televised, will not be televised, will not be televised.
The revolution will be no re-run brothers;
 

The revolution will be live!

- Source and Lyrics 

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Track 7 from The Soul of the Black Panther Era Vol 1, originally from his 1970 album, Small Talk at 125th and Lenox 

 

It's worth to fight for freedom!

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Yours 

Mammasitta 

 

PS : 

More Music History  

Heart Of Stone OR Better Sympathy For The Devil?

My Past Life on TOUR and on Stage with **MILES DAVIS & FEMI KUTI** Photo taken in Italy 1984 - Music is my Passion