Whirled Jazz

This isn't a very good photo, but this was the group Whirled Jazz performing at Simpson University in Redding, CA last night during their first set. Typically I'd post music-related stuff on my main blog, but it occurred to me that what I wanted to say about last night's gig was all about creativity, so I thought I'd share it here instead.

They performed all original music--many tunes by the trombonist, Keller Coker; several by the bandleader/saxophonist, Tom Bergeron; one by the guitarist, John Albano. (All three are college music educators.) And that's Rob Lemas, who plays with Jeffrey on Sunday nights in Sacramento, on bass.

It was great to hear original music--I really enjoyed it. Jazz is one of my favorite musical genres, but it can grow tiresome when you've been an avid live jazz listener for decades and go to gigs only to realize that all you're going to hear is well-known standards. There are certain jazz tunes I could hear a thousand times and never grow tired of them, and of course the whole idea is to make any standard sound fresh and alive and interesting. But how refreshing when an artist/performer cares so deeply about their musical selves that they create music, and put some thought behind it. Personally, I get tired of hearing songs in certain genres that are always about the same thing--love, relationships, heartbreak. Those songs have their place in our American musical canon--in fact, they're innately American. But it was a delight last night to hear the inspiration behind their original compositions--everything from a PBS documentary on string theory...to a science fiction pulp writer...to an original North American people who slayed woolly mammoths...to a trip to Poland that inspired, surprisingly, a tango.

I had taken a seat right before the show started (I'd been hanging out 'backstage' with J.) Most of the seats that were left were on the far sides of the gym. Because the chairs were set up in semi-circled rows, sitting at the front on the far left I could turn to my right and see the entire audience. At first I wondered if they were enjoying the music. I didn't see a lot of the typical head bobbing and swaying that I see in jazz clubs, but they responded with enthusiastic applause after each selection, and at the end of the night (during the second set I sat right in front of the stage) they got a standing ovation. The head of the Music Department told them afterwards that performers there typically never get standing ovations, so it seemed that their music was a hit. And that got me thinking...

We don't give people enough credit. We hesitate to take them out of their comfort zones. The crap that finds its way onto our TV and movie screens (and I'm as guilty as the next person of watching it) and radio airwaves doesn't often inspire us--it numbs us with familiarity. Everything has become about formula--find a formula that works and copy it. But do we gravitate toward the familiar by nature? Or have we been lulled into that pattern by our culture? Because deep down I don't think it's in our nature to avoid the unfamiliar. There's no wonder in the familiar. We gasp with wonder when we encounter something so unique and beautiful that it catches us off guard...because it was unexpected.

So as we continue on our artist's journey, in whatever form our art will reveal itself, let's remember that. Just like the name of this band--let's go for the unexpected. Let's mix things up and surprise people. The worst that could happen is we end up embarrassed. And I've yet to hear of a single death that was caused by embarrassment, no matter how much we wished it to be true. :) The best thing that could happen is that we could end up inspiring...not just others, but ourselves, too.

For a few video snippets, go to my vlog, Moovies.