Turns Out, It was an Extraordinary Day...

Folk #1: Reading the previous post, you might think my partner and I are angst-filled,  Jean Paul Satre-style doomsters. Ha. Nothing could be further from the truth. I mean, I suppose, if we put our minds to it, we can go that way,  and certainly in my younger days, I could put on a pretty good existentially, angst-filled party, but really, we are for the most part, happy, joyous, creative humans.  Bounded by trauma & tragedy just like everyone else. Yesterday we spent most of the day together, riding our bikes in the neighborhood, enjoying a great meal, cracking each other up, there is something uniquely-fulfilling about two humans who have known and lived together for decades, a deep understanding, a secret communication, it is one the best things about being a human: a long-term, uncompromising relationship & friendship. Navigating the hills & valleys together. Mid-afternoon, we went to a Jazz Master Class Workshop, at a local saxophone shop in our with neighborhood, featuring the incredible Chilean Saxophonist, Mellisa Aldana. An amazing, beautiful, creative, musical soul. She started playing saxophone when she was six years old. 37 years old now, no doubt, she one of the finest sax players in the world. Melissa played for nearly an hour with her trio, sax, drums, bass. It was overwhelming just to watch how she totally melds & communes with her instrument, and plays off & silently & telepathically communicates with her fellow musicians. She uses her whole body when she plays. Rising up and dipping down on the high & low notes. A beautiful, musical dance. It was stunning, inspiring, amazing. She then took a break and let the audience members ask questions. I asked her if she had a "spiritual practice," she replied, "Yes. Of course. Music."  She said she plays from her "root Chakra," and well, yes,  there is no doubt she puts herself totally into the music. A spiritual practice? Yes. Indeed. That is something my partner & I believe in too, that our music-making, the process & discipline, the creating, embodying and playing, is a spiritual practice. At the end of the session Melissa showed us her method, how she practiced her art. She does meticulous transcriptions of her favorite saxophone heroes, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Michael Brecker, John Coltrane & Sonny Rollins, and many more; and she channels their notes, their phrasing, their timing, their spirits, their souls. She played along with some of her favorite songs on her phone. She played along note for note, but not just playing the notes, she totally absorbed & embodied the spirit, the soul of the music and the music-makers. She actually, changed, and morphed into another musical spirit while she played. She became a musical chameleon, a shape-shifter of the vibe. It was a knockout performance. What to say? Totally fabulous & inspring. Afterwards we bought one of her and albums and thanked her for the session. She was so kind, so open,  & beautiful, with an aura of simple grace, presence, and humility. An extraordinary human being. Melissa renewed our faith in the human project. We finished the day chilling, and buzzing, from this incredible display of beauty and magnificence. Yes. It was good day. A very, very good day. Indeed.