Brooklyn-born, Harlem-based vocalist, guitarist, and storyteller Allan Harris presents The Poetry of Jazz, his second live recording from Ann Arbor’s Blue Llama Jazz Club. Accompanied by pianist John Di Martino, bassist Jay White, drummer Sylvia Cuenca, and violinist Alan Grubner, Harris creatively bridges the gap between jazz performance and poetic verse. The album interweaves poetry by literary masters including William Shakespeare, Langston Hughes, Dylan Thomas, Maya Angelou, and Robert Frost with Harris’s original compositions and familiar jazz standards. Throughout the recording, Harris creates thoughtful pairings that enhance the emotional impact of each piece— from setting Hughes’ “The Weary Blues” to original music to connecting Shakespeare’s sonnets with jazz standards like “Midnight Sun” and “Charade.” This innovative project showcases Harris’s versatility as he seamlessly blends singing, scatting, and spoken word, offering listeners a fresh perspective on both classic poetry and beloved jazz repertoire. Personnel: Allan Harris Vocals & Guitar, John Di Martino Piano, Jay White Bass, Sylvia Cuenca Drums, Alan Grubner Violin.