Gratitude

As I wait for my bread dough to finish rising, I thought I'd follow suit with some others in the blogosphere and share some things that I am thankful for this year:

My wonderful family.

S is finishing up a very demanding degree program (she graduates in a couple of weeks) and there has not been a time that I haven't been amazed at her focus, insight, determination and courage at this massive undertaking.  Joey breaks every stereotype of a 13 year old that there is.  My parents are in good health and happy, my brother is home safe after a long trip to a not so safe place and my sister is very happy.  I also have, simply put, the best in-laws ever.  I truly love my father, mother and sisters-in law.    

Friends - old, new and reconnected.

I feel very luck to have a group of friends, colleagues, and fellow artistic strivers that make both my personal artistic journey so much more rewarding.  I also have reconnected with so many old friends through the marvel of Facebook and MySpace.  It's wonderful to have so many of you back in my life!

Change.

I am optimistic and hopeful about the next four years.  A welcome change!

Music.

I am always thankful for so much music but here are a few individual things that have brought joy to my life lately...

Maria Schneider - Sky Blue

Darcy James Argue's performance at IAJE last January

Beethoven's C# Minor String Quartet

John Coltrane's "One Up live" recording

Sonny Rollins "Night at the Village Vanguard"

Wayne Shorter - Both his 6o's stuff and his latest explorations

The Decemberists - "The Crane Wife"

Radiohead - "In Rainbows"

Jerry Bergonzi "Tenor Trilogy (Tenor Talk, The Tenorist and The Tenor of the Times)"

Gurus.

David Liebman

Stephen Duke

Christopher Collins

and most recently, Matt Otto

I am so grateful to have learned from you and that you continue to provide guidance and inspiration.

And finally I am grateful to have this outlet to share ideas and to you for reading and participating.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Listening

This is a great talk on listening.

I love Evelyn Glennie.  Her musicianship and virtuosity are a given, but here I am really touched my her thoughts on both the ideas of interpretation vs. translation and listening in general.

Glennie has been Profoundly Deaf since she was 12.

This is from a Buddhist blog, 21Awake, that I have just started reading.  Enjoy.

A Perfect Moment

Very early, sitting.  

A perfect breakfast, in the quiet and cold.

Waiting for the Loves of my life to wake,

Observing the perfect moment that this is.

GD

24 November

5:54 am

Scofield Quartet c. 1992

I came across tonight.  I have always loved this tune and this quartet.  Dennis and Billy get into some deep stuff here....

There are no words...

for both how proud I am of the Electorate and how proud I am to be a part of the Electorate.

We have spoken.  And in doing so, shown that we are both individually and collectively ready to take the next step in social and political evolution.  When I heard President-Elect Obama's victory speech.  I was very touched by the lack of ego that I heard.  The essence that I got was that this was indeed a great and historic day, but now the work for ALL OF US really begins.  I feel a sense of responsibility as a citizen that I must admit has been lacking for a good part of my adult life.

I have heard my Father talk about Kennedy.  I have heard him talk about how Kennedy made him want to help this country.  I have heard him talk about how Kennedy defined what it meant to be patriotic.

I think I may finally understand what he was talking about.