90 Year Old WWII Vet Created Peace with Music

Jazz Nerd

I have officially turned the page to a new chapter of my musically-obsessed life. JAZZ. Oh yes. Now imagine me listening to this with big, glossy eyes, and an intense look of concentration. A whole new world has been opened up!

I am not a Jazz musician. I want to crack up with laughter as I write that, because nothing could be further from the truth. Here's why:

Sometimes you have to move 3,000 miles away to see how good your music education was. My high school, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, had a fantastic Jazz program and my college University of North Florida, had one of the best in the country, according to Downbeat magazine. Did I also mention I lived in the South for the longest part of my childhood? You know, that part of the country where Jazz was born? Still, I chose to focus on Rock, Folk, and World music. My attitude was "Let those Jazz nerds have their music. I don't understand it, so I don't care either way."

Don't get me wrong. I always loved me some Jazz playing in the background at Starbucks or a party, but I rarely got excited about the idea of going to a concert or listening to a new Blues album. I always felt like there was something I didn't hear that every other Jazz fan seemed to notice. Have you talked to a Jazz fan lately? They are more obsessed than John Cusack's Rock and Roll-obsessed character in the movie, "High Fidelity." I couldn't keep up! If you are ever in a conversation with Jazz Nerds, and you are not a fan, just prepare to be bored. The details they go into! The praise and worship! The astonishment that you don't get it!

So what did I do? I didn't get it, so I just acted like I didn't really like it. But how can I not like this stuff? There is so much to listen to. It's an A.D.D. musician's dream.

I think this obsession started when I began teaching my students how to jam on the Blues Scale. I was only teaching it, because it is a basic lesson that should be taught in any music class, but I was surprised at how amazingly fun it would be. What I hear in the blues jam with my students is how they personally hear music, and they're all different. What comes out of one student in a Jam (improvising session) is very different from another. Some students want to play sentimental music while others want to get up and dance. It's really quite fascinating to see their personalities come out with the help of Jazz.

I see it happening in my own life, too. As I learn more about Jazz in order to continue to feed this beautiful jazz-obsessed monster I have created in my lessons, I am also finding parts of my personality I had forgotten about. Something about these "Jazz" chords as I play them on the piano reveals feelings in me I once had as an idealistic, optimistic child. I find myself feeling like peace really is possible within us all. I know this, because when I play Jazz, or let myself get "hooked" while listening to a song, or when I immerse in a Jam session with another human being, be it child or adult, I feel a sense of "connection" with the rest of this world that I only really understood in theory before.

I write all this so you can see how ridiculous it is that I am now, JUST NOW, discovering that I can not only appreciate Jazz, but I feel an excited sense that I can understand it now. I remember a Jazz Nerd from my high school wandering into my place of employment at the time, which was a little bookstore in a shopping mall. He wanted to order some books on Jazz (of course) and proceded to bore me with all of his insights on Jazz and Philosophy and the Mysteries of the Universe. I politely discussed, but when he walked away, I will admit that my first thought was "God, these Jazz guys are SO out there!"

Well, funny how judgments can come back to you, I because now I have proudly crossed over to being a Jazz Nerd, but I promise that I will do my best as a teacher to explain it so you understand what I am talking about. Wait--- shouldn't make promises like that. If I've learned anything about being a Jazz fan from those who have come before me, it's this:

You have to experience Jazz yourself. It's a true inner journey. Let's start with some friendly Vocal Jazz. How about Nina Simone? 

Nina Simone - I wish I knew how it would feel to be free from Ambroise Kritz on Vimeo.

Bobby McFerrin Teaches the Pentatonic Scale

Our Generation: John Legend Speaks For Us

It's taken 2 wars, a financial collapse, 8 years of Bush, and a breakdown of Religious tolerance, but the hard times have finally gotten an answer from someone who can speak to the younger generations. John Legend and The Roots new album "Wake Up!" was just playing full blast in my car after making the impulse buy at Starbucks, and I almost cried with happiness as each song went by. The opening song is called "Hard Times." Perfect beginning. These are hard times. Everything we have been taught about American prosperity is being challenged by our current reality.

The second track, "Compared to What" is a 60's anti-war song that can easily be applied to our current situation. The third track, the most moving and inspirational, is called "Wake Up Everybody" a remake of the tune by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes has a verse that touches my heart especially: "Wake up all the teachers, time to teach a new way. Maybe then they'll listen to what you have to say. Cause they're the ones who are comin' up and the world is in their hands. So when you teach the children, teach them the very best you can."

I won't go through the whole album, but let me just mention the 4th track, "Our Generation (The Hope of the World)"  This song demands that the young people who grew up after the passing of the Civil Rights era (that means YOU Generations X, Y, and Millenials) wake up and do something about this situation we are in! As the songs says,"Our Generation, it's all left up to us. Let's straighten it out!"

I just can't express how excited I am to see an empowering, world-changing album put out by a famous, relevant and current musician who young generations will listen to. Please go out and buy this album. Or burn a copy. Or listen here. Maybe this will be the chance to get another musical revolution going. Let's change the world.

Hanson Grows Up

Remember the song "MmmBop?" Let's see... I was in high school, so that explains why I was totally mean-spirited in my reaction to these guys. Those of you who don't know who Hanson is, they are three brothers from Oklahoma who debuted their original song sometime in the 90's. They were 3 cute, smiley, midwestern kids who could actually play in a band *well* together. It was impressive. Still. I was all gothic and punk and had to pretend that I didn't like them. Such is the fate of many child stars. The kids adore them and the cranky teenagers dismiss them.
Well, it looks like Hanson will show me up after all!

I just read an article about their new album, and I have to say, I was very impressed with the way they personally came across in the interview. All seem totally comfortable with who they are, despite being teased for their "young" marriages (in their early 20's), and Mid-Western style upbringings. I applaud them for being proud of who they are.

Too often, I watch these "comebacks" from grown up child stars while nervously biting my nails wondering when the drug addiction is going to start (or at least be revealed) or the eating disorder, or spousal abuse charges.... you get the idea.

Hollywood loves talented kids, but once they grow up...

As a music teacher in Hollywood of some very talented kids (some who can boast very real connections), I ponder this ethic often. What happens when one of my students writes a song that everyone within earshot can tell it's a hit? I will surely be asked to state my opinion about whether or not I think it's healthy to expose a child to fame. That's a lot of pressure!

I think it's risky. I really do. Poor Dakota Fanning, Brittany Spears, Christina Aguliera, Michael Jackson. All child stars who had to deal with the world making fun of them when they stopped being of that "cute age."

But Hanson... Alright. I'll rethink it a bit. Maybe they will be the exception. I'm rooting for them. They seem to have the tough confidence that is necessary to keep making music even when the grown-ups-who-used-to-be-peers are smirking at them. You can do it, Hanson!!!

See the LA Times article here: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-hanson-20100916,0,3090610.story