New York, New York
New York, New York
Manhattan, sometimes, made me feel like a child in wonderland. The sound of taxi cabs honking every half second during the day, and the river of swirling people coming and going like the ebb tide was in an odd way fascinating. You’d think you were somewhere over seas because of echoes of dialects, and languages bouncing off your ears like arpeggio’s and double time beats of laughter or shouts of annoyance, and yes the really do say, “Get outta here!” quite often, but mostly in jest. Nothing as infectiously attractive as a male New York accent, at least to me anyways.
Unity teachings, teaches things like, staying in the presence, none attachment & letting go of outcomes. At our church we have themes every month, and last month the theme was that of “Explorer” so with complete gusto, I explored New York, as cheaply as I could for six days. Live Jazz was in every nook and cranny, and a deep sense of euphoria every time I stepped up to the mic! These cats really can play! Seemed like all the guys had a story. This was so and so’s ex bass player, pianist, or drummer. Some of them looked well over 78-80, but they dialed things in so tight, I felt nothing but respect!
At the few open Mic’s I went to every Singer was amazing! They were from every ethnicity, and what surprised me were the Singers from Korea, Japan, and I believe northern European roots. They were incredible, and I believe I made friends for life. The guys called me “Babe, and Baby”, the girls, shots me looks of admiration, and indifference. Then there were a few ‘frienamies’ that surfaced. They are everywhere.
It’s wonderful to visit a place where Jazz is not only highly respected, but deeply loved, which brings me to the last intimate detail of my trip. Like a member of the FBI, I researched and tracked down the hottest most influential Jazz Spots in New York, The Blue Note, Dizzy’s, SMOKE’s, The Village Vanguard, and of course Lincoln Center.
Ron Carter, was at the Blue Note for three nights, and I dreamed dreams of meeting and collaborating with him for every one of those nights. Not having the cash flow for dinner and show, I squeezed in at the bar, and bobbed my head and kept time with every song with a small tap of my toe that his trio laid down at the eight o’clock set.
His trio was so tight, it was orgasmic. Everything disappeared, except the music. I knew being at the bar people were more than likely want to start up a conversation, before and after the set, but no one even scarcely breathed when those cats were on the stage, especially me.
Unfortunately, I have no video to show you. My Smart Phone was my life line, so the thought of handing it to someone to film me and then face the possibility of having them run off with it, was a bit unbearable. I didn’t chance it. GOOGLE Maps saved me many a heartache. New York is really a bit of heaven and hell, it’s all in how you look at it. It will steal your heart if you let it, but don’t you let it. Just do you and keep working hard and keep dreaming…. it’s really about the journey, anyway.
P.S., I did a gig there, on the lower East Side of Manhattan, and I was in 7th Heaven…But that’s another post. :-)
