Inspiring, Exhilarating: All that Jazz...

Folk #1: My partner and I went to a Master-Class performance by the fabulous guitarist Mike Stern and his quartet (guitar, bass, drums, sax), yesterday afternoon. These Master-Classes are featured at the little saxophone shop where are rehearsal studio resides. We have seen some incredible Jazz luminaries at these sessions, including performances and talks with Ernie Watts, Joe Lovano, Ravi Coltrane, Melissa Aldana. My partner & I are great fans of Jazz, (our CD shelves include John & Alice Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Pharoah Sanders, Kamazi Washington, Mellissa Aldana) We love Jazz, although our own band is solidly in the folk-rock sphere. It always exciting & inspiring to see these amazingly-accomplished Jazz musicians, give it their all for a small audience, in our homely little rehearsal space. Mike Stern was just fabulous. He and his band play with such dedication and joy. Mike had a terrible fall a few years ago, broke both arms, and as a result his picking hand is very weak, he uses wig glue to help him hold a pick. He applies a bit of glue on the pick and on his thumb & forefinger. Mike has a very graceful, sweet & gentle touch. But he can conjure up a beautiful storm too. His band is totally up to the task too. They can go toe to toe with him on major improvisations. It was a totally exhilarating pefrormance & chat. So great to see incredible musicians dedicated to the music above all else. We went up to speak to Mike at the end of the session, and  thanked him for a fabulous afternoon of music. My partner & I were totally knocked out by the energy, joy and dedication of these musicians. We do our best to do the same with our band. There is something so thrilling & rewarding seeing such a no-ego, selfless pursuit of the perfect sound and open communication. This band embodied the ideal, no doubt. Just fabulous. Life-affirming. Beautiful.