January 29, 2007
Thanks, Ken
I went to see my friend Ken Aldcroft play at the Yardbird Suite on Friday, a great guy I attended college and university with who now lives in Toronto and is making a living doing just that. It was really great seeing him, as it's been years, and really wild hearing him and his new group "Convergence Ensemble". (btw, I should donate my services to upgrade his website... yeech)
It was an interesting night, right after work I and my fellow coworkers went to a nearby 'restaurant/pub' where they have dueling pianos.. yeah... dueling pianos. We were there to see off one of the more senior of our tech support who has become a traitor and going to the dark side. So I walk into this (what looks like) classy place and am greeted by the loud sounds of 70's- 80's rock ... oh yay, perfect music to highlight the dueling pianos. We're sitting eating some damn good steak sandwiches and I notice the artwork adorning the place: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, some blues artists, and other non-pop/rock/crap musician posters all over the place. "It's nice to see them keeping with one theme" I thought to myself as I heard 'They built this city on rock and roll' belting out over the PA.
I get to the Yardbird and talk about 2 worlds, I went from a crowd of '9 to 5'ers to an audience of about 20ish people there to open their ears. I submerged myself in the music for about 3 hours or so and returned in my mind to the 'self' I was about 12 years ago. It really is a different life, when your main goal is NOT to generate revenue, or profit, or cater to everyone, but to do something you feel is right and enjoyable and creating things that are unique to yourself. During that 3 hours I temporarily didn't think about the insurmountable debt or the diapers that need buying, or the school volunteering or the car payments. The only thing that tarnished it was my throbbing headache that I attempted to ignore. To feel like you're contributing something that is yours and no-one else's, that is what it is to be a performer/composer, and I definitely miss that. I could probably pull it off still, but it would take a lot of willpower and time management, two things I need work on.
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience though, they played wonderful thought provoking music that didn't tear your head off in it's madness as sometimes happens in free improvisation. Thanks Ken.
Posted by Oorgo at January 29, 2007 02:53 PM Permalink - Category: Music | TrackBack|
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