Man Listening to Disc Allusions & Cultural References

When poets refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.

Musical References:

  • Sonny Rollins (3): Rollins is a famous jazz saxophonist, born in 1930, who became influential in the jazz music scene beginning in the 1950s.
  • Tommy Potter (16): This jazz bass player played with many greats, including Charlie Parker, Count Basie, and Sonny Rollins.
  • Arthur Taylor (19). He was a renowned jazz drummer who began making his mark in the late 1940s and early 1950s in New York.
  • Thelonious Monk (22). Monk was a jazz pianist who also composed, and he was known for his improvisational jazz style—and his awesome suits.
  • "The Way You Look Tonight" (30). This song was first performed by Fred Astaire in the film Swing Time. Jazz musicians love performing this song.

Geographical References:

  • 44th Street (2): a street in midtown Manhattan, New York.
  • Sixth Avenue (40): one of the avenues that cross north to south in Manhattan.