We Can Live in Harmony
Coexistence comes best by relating through sound
I pretend like I’m writing about music, but I’m not. Not really. I guess music represents to me the ideal form of coexisting, collaborating, communicating. For humans to relate to one another in such a way that beautiful sounds get emitted from their vocal chords, or from instruments handcrafted for the creation of beautiful sounds, is astonishing. And I am wholly humbled by it over and over again.
I am trying again to write about this epiphany in my life, where it started, how it has evolved. It is a memoir-ish long-form piece I have begun over and over again in different ways under different monikers. This week I began again: We Can Live in Harmony. There is so much that needs to be said about the power music and sound has to bring humans together, something we’ve known and practiced since the dawn of time. Work in progress. I will keep you posted:)
For the second week in a row, unfortunately, I did not attend any musical events. Midweek, despite best laid plans, I was felled by a fever and body aches that left me no choice but to turn to my guiltiest of guilty pleasures: watching Scandinavian TV and movies on Netflix:)
I was sorry to miss some amazing shows — Hudson Nomads at The Pines and Chupacabra at Bar LunAtico in particular, hope some of you might have gone?
I got well in time to do my Sacred Bloom sound bath at The Studios in Tannersville for a local friend Donna Bates’ birthday, and it was lovely. I used my big crystal bowl, which I often don’t. Sometimes I feel like the intensity of it is overwhelming. And then I have to wonder: why I am so scared of going BIG, deep, strong? Hmmm. It’s also a pain to haul around, and I fear I’ll break it, there’s that. But the positive resonance is something I need to figure how to build. Our bodies need it right now, desperately, to counteract all the pulls on our energy from darker forces.
When I think of the power of that vibrant crystal bowl, I think of being pulled under a massive wave. It can feel scary and uncomfortable, the harsh sand scratching at your body as it rushes over you. There is a sense of not knowing when it might end, when you might be free, but if you relax and enjoy and trust in the Universe, suddenly you have emerged, maybe topless and twisted around, ha, but also emboldened and somehow stronger from having been through the experience.
There are, as usual this week, a million opportunities in and around in NYC (and wherever you are if you’re somewhere else) to open yourself up a bit in the hopes of gaining some boldness and strength. Even though I bailed on running the Brooklyn Half Marathon this past weekend, I went out to support my son and other runners, clapping and hollering and offering up my hand for high fives as these men and women came into the final stretch.
I was bawling as I screamed “YOU CAN DO IT! YOU’RE ALMOST THERE!! WOOOHOOOO!!” Tears streamed down my face and I explained to my confused husband plainly: “It’s HUMAN EMOTION! These people are trying so hard!!”
Ugh. Sometimes it can feel hard to try, but I have hope, for you, for me, for all of us. WE CAN DO THIS!! Even if it’s just pushing ourselves out the door to a fun show…
In peace and harmony as always, XX
Steph
MONDAY, APRIL 29
Leo Genovese Trio
FIB Tattoo Bar, Brooklyn
8 PM-11 PM
Come to the Forever Ink Bar and Tattoo Gallery (never been but sounds awesome) to listen to the great pianist Leo Genovese, with Tom Rainey on drums and Francesco Marcocci on bass. And while you’re listening, why not get that tattoo you’ve always wanted? This is the week:)
UPSTATE:
Open Mic
Colony Woodstock
Sign-Up at 7 PM, Music at 8 PM
Gulp. I might actually go and try to sign up to play my improv piano at this fun weekly open mic. I love Colony. Why not? Wait. I’m not going to ask myself that question. I’m just gonna say, DO IT!!! Come out if you’re near…
TUESDAY, APRIL 30
International Jazz Day
JazzDay.com
Participate in your own way to celebrate Jazz!
In honor of International Jazz Day, celebrated with an all-star concert in Tangier that you can learn more about at JazzDay.com, art therapist Samm Cohen at the Opportunity House Men’s Shelter where I volunteer asked me if I could come up with something. I put it out there to musicians to see who might want to join me, and am lucky to have had a variety of interest. Guitarist Tom Shad is bringing along fellow musicians Pam Fleming on trumpet and Lauren Lee on vocals to give the guys a jazz demo, and then we will all have the opportunity to do some jazz-themed jamming! So looking forward.
Lots of different ways to celebrate the day. Go see jazz at any of the great venues (Bar Bayeaux always has a great house band and jam session on Tuesdays i.e., listen to jazz records, play, research the history, just appreciate this beautiful musical tradition!!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1
JMMMR/Shantell Martin and Amit Pitaru
Radio Nublu
JMMR at 8 PM, Shantell + Amit at 10 PM
I have been an avid follower of brilliant British visual artist and performer Shantell Martin ever since seeing her large-scale inspirational black and white single line drawings complete with confidence-building questions in an art show in New York many years back. I immediately reached out to interview her in the light-filled white studio in Soho she had back then, where she was drawing on a pair of white jeans when I arrived, and, geesh, I really should have bought something. I did pick up an ARE YOU YOU? tank top at a yoga class done within one of her installations at the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts in Fort Greene (so cool!), that I still wear. She has since collaborated with all kinds of brands and museums—Puma, Tiffany & Co., even the NYC Ballet. So the fact that she is performing some sort of experimental sound with a friend, Google Creative Lab’s Amit Pitaru, at my very fave Classic Nublu, where I haven’t been in forever…I was in from the moment I heard about it! The evening is part of composer/trumpeter/producer (Antibalas member) and Fotografiska associate director of programming Jordan McLean’s bday extravaganza and debut of his band JMMR, starting at 8 PM. These are some cool folks. Come!
THURSDAY, MAY 2
Johnathan Blake My Life Matters
Village Vanguard
Sets at 8 PM + 10 PM
Drummer extraordinaire Johnathan Blake leads this super cool quintet of players he dubs My Life Matters. With the great Fabian Almazan on piano; Dayna Stephens on sax; Jalen Baker on vibes; and Larry Grenadier on bass. I’m psyched to go Thursday, but the group plays two sets every night from Tuesday through Sunday. AMAZING!! And the Vanguard has grown on me, lovely room to hear great jazz, a classic.
FRIDAY, MAY 3
Sacred Bloom Sound Bath
YogaSole
6 PM
COME!!!! It’s always a nice and relaxing way to start off the weekend…
SATURDAY, MAY 4
Charles McPherson Quintet
Smoke Jazz Club
Sets at 7 PM, 9 PM (Dinner Shows) + 10:30 PM
Alto sax and bebop legend Charles McPherson celebrates the release of his new Smoke Sessions album, “Reverence” at this fun Uptown supper club. With great trumpeter Terell Stafford, Jeb Patton on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Billy Drummond on drums. A lovely Saturday night.
SUNDAY, MAY 5
Stephane Wrembel/Daisy Castro
Barbes
8 PM-11:55 PM
Catch this Sunday Gypsy double-feature at Park Slope jazz/international music staple Barbes, starting with French guitarist Stephane Wrembel’s weekly “Django A Gogo” homage to Django Reinhardt, followed by Gypsy Jazz violinist Daisy Castro, both with beautiful troupes of talented musicians.