Adventures in Poetry

“Hal Crook has created a new poetic form:
the poetorial!” Margie Keil Flanders, Former
Managing Editor, Crosswinds Poetry Journal

“Hal Crook is the king of irony, and he writes
a mean poetorial!” Paul Hostovsky, author of
Pitching for the Apostates

“Crook transforms poetry into a sweet but changed
instrument for argument, education, and whimsy.”
Rod Kessler, Professor Emeritus, Salem State

HAL CROOK, Professor Emeritus, Berklee College
of Music is an internationally known jazz musician.
He has published four books on jazz improvisation,
one novel, one collection of short stories,
and one volume of poetry.

From the FOREWORD…

As ludicrous as this may sound, this book is
a competition between Jazz—an art form I have
practiced and played professionally for most of my
life, which many people consider to be an acquired
taste itself—and numerous other subjects that may
have the feel or vibe of an acquired taste to them.

Though for some of these subjects, you will have to
use your imagination a little to grasp the connection
to an acquired taste. Or a lot. Or not at all, if you’re
a certain kind of person. Like, a little bit off is good.
Or a lot. So relax, because who isn’t?

Each piece is written in the style of a narrative
editorial, but expressed in the form of a poem,
e.g., using stanzas and line breaks—like this one—
and other elements of poetry as well, such as clichés—
those old familiar sayings used to help the reader
understand what the writer is talking about.

Know what I’m saying?

More Comments...

“Hal Crook is the king of irony, has a beautiful smile, writes a mean poetorial, and can spell loquacious and empty a trombone spit valve simultaneously.” Paul Hostovsky, author of Pitching for the Apostates

“Should anyone be surprised that a jazzman-turned-author like Hal Crook—a musician famous for improvising—should start riffing on the very form of poetry, as he does in ADVENTURES IN POETRY: Poetorials on JAZZ and Other Acquired Tastes, transforming that art into a sweet but changed instrument for argument, meditation, edu- cation, and whimsy? I learned a lot from these pages.” Rod Kessler, Professor Emeritus, Salem State University, author of Self-Portrait with Tree

“Hal Crook has created a new poetic form: the poetorial! Smart, wild commentaries on the world, as only he sees it. A great read, with snorting laughs throughout. I’ll happily read anything Hal writes.” Margie Keil Flanders, Former Managing Editor, Crosswinds Poetry Journal, author of The Persuasive Beauty of Imperfection

“Superb.” Gregg Mazel, Technology Integration Specialist

“Hal’s writing is mind blowing!” Jesús Santandreu, Saxophonist/Educator

“Thank you for putting ‘life’ into words so perfectly!” JoAnn Marzocchi Phillips, Vocalist/Educator

“Stone-cold genius.” Scot Jackson, Drummer/Educator

“Words of wisdom!” Brian O’Connell, Bassist

“One of the best, [Hal] writes from experience...says what we in jazz experience.” Al MacDonald, Saxophonist

“And there’s the low down!” Bob Albanese, Pianist

“Brilliant.” Bob McChesney, Trombonist/Educator

“This is fantastic poetry!” Kevin Sullivan, Saxophonist/Educator

“Took me out of this world.” Ola Piano, Pianist

“Great work on so many levels. [Hal] creates in people the desire to think.” JH Cooper, Saxophonist/Educator

“Truth.” Dave Zinno, Bassist/Educator

“A thinking man’s jazzbo.” Eric S. Pettine, Trombonist/Educator

“Loved this! A heart opens up and bleeds musical expression.” Dave Dubinsky, Trumpeter/Educator

“[Hal] never disappoints.” Mark Miller, Trombonist

“Read Hal Crook closely. We have giants among us.” Andrew Dow, Bassist/Educator