Bird of Paradise (Paperback)

Portland poetry and jazz lovers will remember Brian Richardson, the local musician who, a few years back, specialized in improvising saxophone solos to accompany poetry recitals at open-mike venues around the city. Inspired by this experience, Brian began writing his own poetry, and has now assembled this first collection of his work, which recalls the elements of his musical creation. Free-formed and enlivened by jazz-like improvisation, Brian's poems are nonetheless disciplined by a strong sense of rhythm. His obvious love for the music of words brings added power to the rapid succession of brilliant images that his poetry evokes.