featuring Branford Marsalis (instrumentally only)



* 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 th