Moving To Higher Ground
November 30, 2009 by Janice
Can A tweet change your life? Hm..well it can definitely alter it. Last night instead of the definite frustration I had going on, a tweet and the link it contained turned my Sunday night into an absolute delight.
@wyntonmarsalis was “heading on stage” for his live concert on Facebook. In what might be the most satisfying use of all social media ever, Wynton and his Quintet Ustreamed a fan appreciation concert live from the Gillespie Club in New York City last night. And later, for an encore, a jam with Monty Alexander and Jonathon Batiste. If you missed it, you really missed something special: Marsalis on trumpet, Dan Nimmer on piano, Carlos Henriques on bass, Walter Blanding on Sax and Ali Jackson on the drums. And they smoked it. The best of the best doing what they love to do… like watching a master painter and his crew deliver a living breathing masterpiece just for those who showed up….
You remember showing up, right?
(the artist smiles)
Sometimes you get treats for showing up.
This was an absolute treat in every sense of the word.
Improvisation like a dream. Golden tones and smokin’ keys…honestly, you want to see what making jazz music looks like, this was it. History was in that room. Fun and work and more fun and wow what music.
Yes, words leave me, and the sound just comes in..it was verra nice.
Being part of the jazz appreciating audience ( the comments were rapidly flowing) as we listened was about as close to being there as you could get. Over 1100 virtual fans captured in the magic hour just as rapt, just as engaged as the people sitting there in the audience. And the live audience was part of that stream too. Not quite Snug Harbour on Frenchmen Street, but I will show up any time they want to do this again.
Marsalis just happens to be one of my premier muses.
That’s his current book in the photo, Moving to Higher Ground. I just got an overdue notice from the library this morning. oops. I am taking my time with it because it is jammed packed with brilliant insight on the process of jazz. Something I seem not to be able to live without: Jazz Music.
So here we are on an Organizing Monday, 5 and counting folks, until we say goodbye to 2009. I have my list front and center…some things on it are a snap, some things not so much, but I think I will be doing them while listening to what Wynton is bringing to the season.
Yes, why not? I am looking for big red gifts with a bow on them…and this is one I am giving myself. I intend to make it fun.
How about you? Any “whistle while you work ” goodies you use to make the work not so well, work like?
Thank you Wynton Marsalis for being the classy guy you are. ( BTW, none of those links are affiliate links…just passing on the joy )
Tis now that season right?
Comments
4 Responses to “Moving To Higher Ground”
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Music is the FIRST art IMHO
it’s like breathing or the blood circulating..
How can you resist it’s flow and ebb
Lucky you to have “attented” that concert…
I still love MJ for that shot of vitality when I’m flagging.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvNJE4FFPP8
Oh I think you may be right…Nice thought to ponder… I am going to try to make a dance performance thursday at the Dallas Art Museum called Dance into the Light.. African rhythms…Looking forward to that…
Janice, proof that good things come to good people. What an absolute treat and I agree brilliant use of social media. You also illuminated a number of lessons here such as “showing up.” We cannot receive the gifts if we never show up. I believe that showing up happens daily and makes us live in a way that we are fully present, eyes wide open to the multitude of gifts that come our way in a given day.
Karen,
It was truly wonderful. Such an event. Showing up has its rewards for sure.