JaZzArt en València

“Peace and tranquillity sometimes looks like shades of blue stretching to the horizon.”

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WISDOM

Wisdom
flowing through capillaries of a dream
before the first wheel rolled,
before the new-born’s primal shock,
when no seed had sprouted roots,
or cumulonimbus obscured the tops of mountains
and waterfalls became rivers through the land.

Before cerulean skies,
and when seas forgot their limits,
were the days without fragments of stars
or comets traversing space.
The shadows of mountains
covered valleys of silicone and jade.

Wisdom found an empty chair on the horizon,
and then a place to hide,
where she could linger lazily and quiet
deep inside the mind of man.

C.2025, Francisco Bravo Cabrera – 16 JUN 2025/16 JUN 2026 – Valencia, España

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NOTA BENE

The original of this poem I published here on VALENCIARTIST on the 16th of june 2025. I have now «updated» the poem exactly one year later. I hope you enjoy it. And if you want to compare and contrast. I leave you also the link to the original

#poem, «Wisdom»

JazzArt is more than a style it is a philosophy and for me a perfect way of integrating the plasticity of art and the improvisational magic of jazz music.

For me jazz is not just be-bop, swing or smooth jazz. Jazz is the spirit that guides the musician to improvise, create as he plays and to be rhythmic. I hear jazz in many of the 60’s and 70’s rock music by such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, among many others.

Here is a good example of JazzArt and jazz which sounds a bit different than expected.

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El AMERICANO

Nació en El Chaltén.
Tierra de Fuego, La Patagonia con pies helados.
Fue dejando huellas en los Andes del Perú,
refrescándose en el Lago Titicaca.
Poncho rojo, lana blanca,
oro, incienso, y las leyendas
de dioses con pupilas de jade en los cuencos de la cara.

Serpiente voladora de árbol en árbol
al desierto digiriendo polvo y alacranes.
Jungla y montañas.
México se asoma entre las musas plataneras
con sonrisas.

Caribe: piratas asesinos, ron, sol y huracanes.
Isleños sembrando caña cubana.
Pueblos rebeldes.
Nave y viento a la Florida.
Trillos por el monte y al oeste las rocosas.
Más al norte pie y apoyo.
Osos blancos zambulléndose en los lagos incontables:
Canadá.
América.
Desde la Patagonia
hasta el Yukón.

(Valencia, 13 de junio de 2026, Francisco Bravo Cabrera)

NOTA BENE

Un saludo y un respeto a todos los que han poblado, cultivado y amado ese gran continente americano que se extiende desde La Patagonia hasta lo mas norte de Canadá. Todos americanos y todos orgullosos.

“Jazz Band One Circle”

This archival print of the original graphite on paper drawing by Francisco Bravo Cabrera (FBC) measures 30 x 42 cm. The composition features imaginary jazz musicians of an imaginary jazz ensemble that perhaps has been contracted to play at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The main elements are the faces, bodies and points of view of the figures as well as the instruments. Mostly done in grey, black and the empty spaces in white, it exudes a feeling of precise timing and rhythm, with mathematical precision, as jazz should be.

FBC has exhibited since 2003 in various countries, and in three of the five existing continents, being: America, Europe and Asia. In America to include the United States; in Europe: Spain, Ireland and in Asia: Turkey. His works, both black and white drawings and acrylic on canvas paintings, are in private collections all across Europe, America and Asia. His work and progress can be followed via his blog “VALENCIARTIST» (https://www.paintinginvalencia.com) as well as through his Instagram, @Francisco_Bravo_Cabrera

CHEERS

El AMERICANO

Nació en El Chaltén.
Tierra de Fuego, La Patagonia con pies helados.
Fue dejando huellas en los Andes del Perú,
refrescándose en el Lago Titicaca.
Poncho rojo, lana blanca,
oro, incienso, y las leyendas
de dioses con pupilas de jade en los cuencos de la cara.

Serpiente voladora de árbol en árbol
al desierto digiriendo polvo y alacranes.
Jungla y montañas.
México se asoma entre las musas plataneras
con sonrisas.

Caribe: piratas asesinos, ron, sol y huracanes.
Isleños sembrando caña cubana.
Pueblos rebeldes.
Nave y viento a la Florida.
Trillos por el monte y al oeste las rocosas.
Más al norte pie y apoyo.
Osos blancos zambulléndose en los lagos incontables:
Canadá.
América.
Desde la Patagonia
hasta el Yukón.

(Valencia, 13 de junio de 2026, Francisco Bravo Cabrera)

NOTA BENE

Un saludo y un respeto a todos los que han poblado, cultivado y amado ese gran continente americano que se extiende desde La Patagonia hasta lo mas norte de Canadá. Todos americanos y todos orgullosos.

THE GREAT WAY

Mothers and fathers

at pace with whatever

sounds pollute their ears

push their tiny offspring

in squeaky buggies.

Tiny socks caress the ankles

of short pants,

strolling and eye piercing,

creatine digestion,

step counters,

time consuming

merchants of paraphernalia

on the sunny side.

I ride the last few drags

from a faded Winston,

cranberry hopes

knifing through

yesterday’s plans.

Corner dwellers.

Tamed and idle reminders.

The present need:

to be somewhere.

Watch,

like a cat from a storefront window.

Curiosity is not an acquired trait,

it is a reflex.

A flying empty pack of Winstons

graces the rubbish heap

sacrificing itself

in rays from St. Malo’s

crispy sun.

The cracks are jagged teeth

and long tongued.

To passing trainers, pumps

or fancy boots.

The puddles always shine with

last night’s bile.

Racing downwind from

the coffee aroma

an umbrella holds up

a centenarian.

(Francisco Bravo Cabrera)

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