I haven't been feeling well lately, so please excuse the lack of contact.
It was jazz to the rescue tonight, pulling me out of my melancholy mood and inspiring me to create again!
Those who know me, know that for the past 5 years or so, every Tuesday night from 7-9 PM, PST, you can find me making art to jazz music spun by the incomparable Ryan Lee on The Jazz Underground. (www.khum.com) This is my sacred time to create. He always seems to play the perfect tune, and I lose myself in the river of creativity. This two hours per week has become one of my main joys in life.
Last week I was wondering: what is it about this ritual that I love so much?
Answer: It's always new.
So much in life seems like the same old routine. But I know that I can tune in every Tues. night, and I will always hear tunes I have never heard before, or tunes I know, but played in a new way. Ryan knows his stuff, and so I always learn something new. And no matter what I am going through (which currently, is A LOT) I always feel compelled to create eventually as the jazz washes over me. I now understand what Art Blakey meant when he said : "Jazz washes away the dust of every day life."
It's usually instrumental, and the lack of words triggers a door in my brain that opens me up to feeling free and unfettered in my art, more able to try something new, and less of a perfectionist. But even when there are words, I can't help but be inspired by them. Here's one he played tonight that touched my artist's soul deeply:
(It also occurred to me that the ten year anniversary of 911 is coming up soon, in 5 days. This video was just so very New York. I dedicate it to all who are still suffering from that tragic day that none of us will ever forget.)
As Ryan Lee says at the closing of every show: "Be nice to one another."