* original version appeared on the "Mo' Better Blues" soundtrack
 "I would like to play a.. little tune I just composed not so long ago"
 "Ms. Billie  Ms. Billie  Ms. Billie Holiday"
 *HORNS*
 *drum roll* *piano keys played*
 *HORNS*
 "Byrd..?" *trumpet solo* *group horns*
 "The music called jazz.."  > Guru
 *HORNS*

 [Guru]
 It's roots are in the sounds of the African
 or should I say the mother.. bringin us back again
 From the drummin on the Congo, we came with a strong flow
 and continue to grow
 Feet move, to the beat of the t'balo
 Now dig the story and follow
 For then it landed, on American soil
 Through the sweat, the blood, and the toil
 Hear, "Praise the Lord," shouted on chain gangs
 Pain they felt, but it helped them to maintain
 Scott Joplin's rags, Bessie Smith's blues
 St. Louis blues, they were all the news
 Ringin smooth.. in all the listeners ears
 Fulfillin the needs, and plantin the seeds
 of a jazz thing

 King Oliver's group was a train comin through
 to Chicago, bringin the New Orleans groove
 And when Satchmo blew, the audience knew
 Basil Street blues was the whole house tune
 it was music.. great to dance to
 Great to romance to with a lot to say to you
 Relaying a message, revealing the essence
 of a jazz thing

 * DJ Premier cuts "jazz music" *

 In the 40's came be-bop, the first be-bop
 The real be-bop, so let me talk about
 Diz' and Byrd, givin the word
 Defining how a beat could be so complete
 Playing with ferocity, thinkin with velocity
 About ornathology, or anthropology
 and even ?, and this is real history
 Theolonious Monk, a melodious thunk


 No mistakes were made with the notes he played
 His conception, was ?re condite?
 A star glowing bright among dim lights
 The critics did cite that he sounded alright
 Charlie Mingus, such nimble fingers
 Droppin the bass, all over the place
 and Max Roach, cymbals socking
 Bass drum talking, snare drum rocking
 Restructuring.. the metaphysics
 of a jazz thing

 John Coltrane, a man supreme
 He was the cream.. he was the wise one
 The impression of Afro Blue
 and of the promise, that was not kept
 He was a GIANT step, and there was Ornette Coleman
 He was another soul man
 The original invisible, playing great music
 I wonder why the ?Bangles? couldn't use it
 Now listen see
 The real mystery is how music history
 created by white men or any other white man
 that pretended he originated "uh-huh.."
 and contended that he innovated "uh-huh.."
 a jazz thing
 ("Of course we know who can really blow")
 Scheamin on the meaning
 of a jazz thing

 And this music ain't dead, so don't be misled
 by those who said that jazz was on it's deathbed
 Cause when Betty Carter sings a song
 ain't nuttin goin on, but simply good music
 And you won't refuse it
 She's takin her time, makin the nuances rhyme
 Sonny Rollins, tenor saxophone
 with a big old tone, recitin poems
 with notes as words, and haven't you heard
 NEXT STOP BUTTER, RIGHT PAST OLEO
 Now there's young cats blowin
 And more and more people, yes they will be knowin
 Jazz ain't the past, this music's gonna last
 and as the facts unfold, remember who foretold
 The 90's, will be the decade of
 a jazz thing "I love jazz music" (3X)

 * Primo scratches "I love jazz music" *

 A jazz thing