Aug. 22 (Bloomberg) -- David Amram, the ``composer in residence'' at next week's Democratic National Convention in Denver, is famous for creating his own gigs.

He and Jack Kerouac pioneered jazz and poetry readings in the 1950s. Along with Julius Watkins, Amram was one of the first to improvise on a French horn. And he was one of the first musicians to seriously explore what came to be called ``world music.''

With his talent and youthful optimism, Amram, 77, has been called (by me) ``the world's oldest teenager.'' (He likes to say ``never trust anyone under 70.'')

Amram says he was ``inspired by Bach, Berlioz, Charlie Parker, Antonio Carlos Jobim, great Arabic singers, Lakota traditional singers, Cantor Yossele Rosenblatt and ancient Gaelic music.''

He explained the responsibilities of a composer in residence in an e-mail this week while ``hiding out'' at his farm in upstate New York composing a piano concerto.

``My musical contributions will include `Three Songs for America,' settings of speeches by John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy for bass voice and orchestra,'' Amram said.

Denver People

``I'll also be conducting the Colorado Children's Chorale (a killer 100-voice, prize-winning choir) performing my piece based on sentences by people of Denver, who were interviewed on the street by sociologist Dr. Audrey Sprenger for a film she created for the convention (`I am a cab driver, I am a student, I am a Broncos' fan, I am a future doctor, I am a proud father,' etc.).

``These statements will be sung and chanted, with audience participation, accompanied by my jazz trio,'' Amram said. ``We will also perform three pieces for children's chorus for which I composed both the words and the music, dedicated to three great musicians. They are Native American musician and actor Floyd Red Crow Westerman, jazz innovator Thelonious Monk and ambassador of Afro-Cuban music, band leader Machito.''

Over the years, while composing more than 100 orchestral pieces, Amram has collaborated with Leonard Bernstein (as composer in residence with the New York Philharmonic), Odetta, Dizzy Gillespie (they toured Cuba together in 1977), Willie Nelson (he played with his band during Farm Aid tours), Oscar Pettiford, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Elia Kazan (the soundtrack for``Splendor in the Grass''), and Allen Ginsberg (on Alfred Leslie's underground classic film, ``Pull My Daisy'').

Free Spirit

He also won an award from the Hollywood Arts Council for his pioneering efforts in combining jazz and symphonic music in films such as ``The Manchurian Candidate.''

You have to respect the Democrats, first, for creating the post of composer in residence -- although I suspect it was Amram's idea -- and then for hiring such a free spirit to fill it.

At the convention, which runs from Aug. 25-28, he also will perform the premiere of a new piece for which he composed both the words and music, based on the ``I am somebody'' statement of Rev. Jesse Jackson.

``We will end the evening with `Theme and Variations on Amazing Grace,' followed by the grand finale with my trio playing `Now's the Time' by Charlie Parker, honoring the early civil-rights slogan `Our moment is now,' with audience participation.''

Obama's Time?

``I'm planning to spring a surprise,'' Amram said in his e-mail, ``an Obama singalong during `Now's the Time.' You are the first to see it since I just made it up!

```What's the time ... NOW's the time,' repeat with chorus call and response. The final two bars: `What's the time? OBAMA TIME!'''

In his memoir ``Vibrations'' about Greenwich Village in the 1960s (introduction by Douglas Brinkley, blurb from Arthur Miller), Amram recalls his ``crazed existence'' in a slice-of-pie-shaped apartment over a liquor store.

People came at all hours to jam, talk and listen to music. It was a special time and place. He remembers it in great detail, which may be due to the fact that he tended to be the only sober one at his parties.

The expression ``natural high'' fits the world's oldest teenager perfectly.

(Mike Zwerin is a critic for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer of this story: Mike Zwerin in Paris at mikezwerin@gmail.com.

Last Updated: August 21, 2008 19:42 EDT