New Moon, New Clarity

What do I want more of? MUSIC!!!

In a few hours, the full Wolf Moon will emerge in the sky. As someone always looking for meaning (maybe you are too?) I have read that full moons signify a moment of culmination and fulfillment, when emotions and intuition intensifies and we can see things more clearly. And so we can use this time to reflect, to pause thirteen days in to 2025 to ponder a bit on what we might do as we move further into the year.

It is said that the Wolf Moon speaks to connection with loved ones. Zen teacher and mindfulness practitioner Ji Hyang Padma suggests that it is “Encouraging us to step into nurturing and mutuality in relationships.”

Great. Will do. All we can do is try, right? And keep on trying, even when old patterns threaten to derail us from moving forward into better spots. New Moon. New Year. New Shot. Which is why January often sucks, frankly. I think about how I should exercise more and eat better and have better relationships and all this motivation I’m supposed to have to do those things seems to slip by me unnoticed as I lie back in bed, staring at the ceiling for the hours I should be at the gym or at the grocery store pulling together all those fresh ingredients for my new healthy diet regimen!! And getting along with people…well, it continues to be hard despite pledges to be kinder, gentler, easier and more loving:(

But what am I am committed to this year is—you won’t be surprised to hear—MUSIC!! The making of it, the listening to it, the supporting of it and the people who do it in any way possible.

As I sat listening to trumpeter Eric Biondo at Lowlands on Monday (pictured above), I recalled how I’d told him about my desire to do a music newsletter a little over a year ago, and how enthusiastically supported the idea, how he’s often since then added his likes to my posts:) I also recalled listening to him play how music has the great power to put me in a blissful trance that I desperately need on the regular. And so I thank Eric, and all the musicians who offer me the great chance at bliss. And I move forward hoping to nurture those and other relationships in my life, including the one with myself. Self care, which for me often translates to music-related activities, is a crucial part of making this and any year good. So be kind and caring to yourself. AND COME OUT TO SEE MUSIC, INCLUDING MY SOUND BATHS THIS YEAR!!

Here’s what I have marked on my calendar in the coming days…I’m going to be a little less formal about this moving forward. And am also putting it out there that if you have interest in seeing music on any given night, reach out and I will try to find something for you ( a free service til WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE reach out, then I’ll start to charge you, lol.)

I attended the above Winter Jazzfest All-Star night at Roulette last night featuring improvised interpretations on “A Love Supreme.” Wow! Such cool pairings of so many amazing musicians!

Starting with Ravi Coltrane, playing sax with Dezron Douglass on bass, Davi Virelles on piano and Jeff “Tain” Watts on drums (who I’d just seen at Dizzy’s at Lincoln Center for the first time with Ravi and others), it was a mind-blowing array. Here are some videos and pics:

Blown away by all the amazing talent in the room, I was compelled to check out the schedule of the remainder of NYC Winter Jazzfest and to actually buy some advance tickets.

On the docket is the late show of Strata-East Rising tonight at LPR (Le Pouisson Rouge), featuring another crazy number of big stars including Aja Monet, Camille Thurman, Charles Tolliver and Christian McBride, among others.

And tomorrow night is a stacked evening of talent at Nublu, where I’m hoping to stay up long enough to see the 10:30 PM show featuring Kenny Wolleson, Yusuke Yamamoto, Dave Harrington and Ilhan Ersahin and the midnight performance of Jason Lindner, Panagiotis Andreou and Currency Audio.

As I am headed to Tucson, AZ to see family, I will be able to catch part of the Tucson Jazz Festival. I am THRILLED to see percussionist/singer Beth Goodfellow again! Since I met her at an upstate show a couple years back, I have been hoping to catch her in her hometown of Los Angeles but no luck. Finally, I am going to catch her as part of the three-night Secret Jazz Series on Saturday, Jan. 18th during “Vibrate” to see her play Marimba and vocals. Yay!!

Ok folks. Find some time tonight to try to see clearly what you might want more of in the coming year…hopefully it’s music!

I am doing a private group soundbath this evening, and hope to book more of them in the coming months, so reach out!! stephsthompson@gmail.com.

Peace & Harmony,

Steph