[BIRD’S REGULAR HORN VS. THAT PLASTIC SAX]

Parker played
  a Conn alto sax
with an underslung neck.

Dooley Weilert
   of Roeland Park
used to fix it.

That plastic sax
   the American Jazz Museum
bought, Bird only played
   once or twice; Dooley called it
“a terrible horn.”

quoted by Joe Popper
The Kansas City Star
16 Aug. 1997, A-14
“Jazz greats sought this repairman”

*The Grafton plastic saxophone was sold by Christie’s in auction in the 1990s for $140,000 and is now on display at the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City.

Past Poet Laureate of Kansas (2017-2019) Kevin Rabas teaches at Emporia State University, where he leads the poetry and playwriting tracks. He has sixteen books, including Lisa’s Flying Electric Piano, a Kansas Notable Book and Nelson Poetry Book Award winner.