TRUST

CHRISTMAS IN DETROIT

In Michigan in December we are told that there is a sun. As we don’t see the sun very much, this will take faith. We are told to trust that things are looking up. Those who are doing well have evidence and trust that this is true, yet many are not so sure. Detroit is a town that doesn’t always fall for the lines “trust me” and ” don’t trust them”. Trust has to be earned. We have learned from experience that creating a solid footing should be available to all of us. Detroit musicians keep showing us the way. In a town rich in trustworthy musical talent bands are formed to play honest music. Trust grows out of rich soil and traditions.

That train under the tree was all I could think about. I was hopeful but unsure that I had been good enough. I don’t think that I slept all Christmas eve. I had faith in Santa being a good guy, but I didn’t trust that he understood how hard it is for a boy to be good all the time. I should have trusted that Santa would do the right thing. We need faith in something to get a good night’s sleep. The goodness of the Santa Claus story eventually sunk in.

FINDING TRUST, FAITH AND FAMILY

We are indeed fortunate when we have the surety and security that comes with having trust in something. When you are in trusted hands you have the confidence to go out and do your best job possible. The experience of Christmas and jazz just point this out to us.

The holidays are a season of, faith, family and trust. In two weeks Christians will celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus. Jews meanwhile will be celebrating Hanukah, the festival of lights. We all will be accepting the existence of the miracles that underlie these holidays. This requires faith. Many will see the holidays as a jolly way to end the year.

The holiday season comes along once a year to remind all of us how fortunate we are to have a warm place to land. It is a time when family includes all those around us.

THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

The holiday season asks us to think about the stories that the truly faithful believe. We gladly go along with the uplifting music that is everywhere and seek the warm feeling inside that comes with giving the perfect gift. We watch Scrooge’s transformation into the person that we thought he should be. We seek out our own Tiny Tim. People from all levels of faith will plunge wholeheartedly into the Christmas spirit. Belief comes easily to children, and we make an extra effort not to disappoint them. We will spend a lot of time watching the joy in the faces of children.

GREAT JAZZ, TRUST AND FAMILY ALL OF THE TIME AT THE DIRTY DOG

When jazz musicians close their eyes they aren’t always nodding off. They are generally on a journey of trust. They are taking off into the unknown with their partners’ wind under their wings. They can do this because they trust that they will have the support of the group and they will be gently brought back to the solid ground and back to the melody. Playing jazz is risky business without the solid foundation that trust in the music and the process provides. The freedom and experimentation that is jazz needs a home base that is built on faith and trust.Trust can only grow when planted in healthy soil. When something is consistent, constant, caring and honest, trust develops.

LETTING GO COMPLETELY

Letting go of the rope when you are at the highest point and enjoying the adventure is the ultimate show of trust. Trusting that those holding the net won’t disappoint you or that your skill of entering the water will prevent disaster. Without trust in yourself or your mates you probably will hold on to the rope and return to the platform that you started from. You probably won’t get the same level of applause as those who had the trust and the skill.

John Osler

COME OUT THIS WEEK AND PROVE TO YOURSELF THAT THE DIRTY DOG CAN BE TRUSTED TO SHOW YOU SOME GREAT JAZZ

December 13 – December 16

GENE DUNLAP

Gene Dunlap will be our drummer boy this week. Gene has a history of enjoying playing jazz in Detroit. You don’t have to ask him , just watch him at work. His bio shows us that a lot of jazz musicians have enjoyed playing with Gene.