A GOOD INVESTMENT – OUR KIDS

CARING ABOUT OUR KIDS

Maturation means the ordinary development of growth and aging. It occurs naturally without any conscious effort on the part of the individual.

Our kids are especially vulnerable as they take their long road to emotional and physical maturity. As members of the human race we use up a quarter of our lives figuring things out, longer even than those much larger than we are like the blue whale.

Our instincts are to shield, nurture, educate and protect our children. We are at a crossroads right now. We are being told it is OK to be concerned with our own safety and enrichment, but we don’t have an equal fervor to invest in our nation’s children, especially in the music and the arts.

We are watching as policies are being put in place that too often favor the protection of the caregiver over the child.

TAKING THINGS INTO OUR OWN HANDS

The Dirty Dog April 20, 2017

WAYNE SHORTER AT THE DIRTY DOG

Wayne Shorter had just been in Detroit in his role as the Detroit Jazz Festival’s Resident Artist for 2017. This remarkable jazz saxophonist offered to be part of a master class held at the Dirty Dog Jazz Café. When he entered the club he was greeted with awe and respect. Great artists can be a little intimidating. Any intimidation melted away under the weight of Wayne’s manner and words, while the awe and respect carried on throughout the evening. At this moment in his life Wayne Shorter has little to prove. He still can’t enter a room without having something to say that needs to be said. Wayne came into the room where the young musicians were preparing to play and sat down in a chair facing them. Without speaking he waved to them to start playing. While they played he did what jazz artists do best. He listened. He responded to what he just heard by saying that it is what you personally bring to the gig that is more important than your instrument and all your newest tricks. He told them to live life so that they would have something to say and know when it is appropriate to say it. They learned that their music would be only as good and as big as their lives.

Later that evening Wayne Shorter played what he preached to a rapt crowd that included these same young musicians. I watched their faces as he played.

I think that the students got it.

I think I got it.

I left my safe place the following Monday to see if he was right.

AFFIRMATION MONDAY April 24, 2017

Inspired by what Wayne shorter said I spent last Monday morning finishing up a blog about good things trickling down and good things trickling back up. I wrote about things that had turned out right because of good people doing good things. I did this while sitting in my safe room with my computer. I wrote that things will be OK because of all the caring musicians and artist that I was coming in contact with. It turns out that I was somewhat prophetic. When I wandered out later in the day I found really good moments and kind acts taking place, and most involved young artists.

AFFIRMATION MONDAY APRIL 24. 2017 5:00PM

DETROIT FINE ART BREAKFAST CLUB AT NONIS RESTAURANT

I have been joining a group of Detroit graphic artists at Noni’s family restaurant down the street from Baker’s Keyboard Lounge on Livernois Ave. It is an impromptu support group. As word has gotten out more and more artists have shown up. Old cats and younger artists sharing their work and helping each other. There are a lot of conversations mixed in with reserved admiration for each artists work, except when a young child’s work is held up for all to see. Children’s art is greeted universally with deserved approval. The children who show up are welcomed and affirmed.

AFFIRMATION MONDAY APRIL24, 2017 7:00PM

DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL JAM AT THE DIRTY DOG

The fourth Monday of each month the Dirty Dog Jazz Café opens for the Detroit Jazz Festival sponsored OPEN JAM. This Monday the house band was once again filled with some of Detroit’s finest jazz artists and educators. Anyone lucky enough to have hear about this evening was treated to some serious musical strutting as the young musicians unpacked their best stuff and put forward their challenges to any old thinking. The evening seems to build in intensity as the night goes on. What was on display here was a room full of wisdom.