The day before we attend the day of our choice at the Newport Jazz Festival I gaze with a heavy heart through patinated portholes as the surly grey clouds roll across the slate gloom of Narragansett Bay and gleefully deposit their watery burden upon us. As I watch the raindrops pock the surface all around us with tiny fountains that desperately reflect what little light that can be gleaned from the invisible sun that is hidden behind the swirling mists of cloud ,I can only ponder the existence of a benevolent God or wonder if Nature really is a Mother.
Are the promoters of concerts that are to be performed in the open air actually sinners to the point where they must be punished for their presumption that on this or these days they will be blessed with an azure sky and a balmy breeze ? I think not , for they have already reaped their financial harvest before a gate has opened.
On this day the fans of Trombone Shorty and Wynton Marsalis , Randy Brecker and even the Kurt Rosenwinkel Quartet will shiver in their ponchos and under their no doubt only partially effective umbrellas while trying to ignore the insidious creeping chill that invades their sodden foot ware . Their hearts and ears will try to absorb the energy and soul that the musicians will attempt to convey through the gloom whilst trying to avoid touching microphone stands that could short and send them to that great Club in the Sky where they will at last get to jam with Sachmo and Bird and the Count and the Duke.
If,for once we can believe the misinterpretations and outright lies that the meteorologists deign to call forecasts , we can expect , on the morrow , some sun. Maybe some cloud and a chance of showers.
Maybe God and Mother N. are also admirers of David Sanborn , Dr John ,Bobby Mc Ferrin, the Mingus Big Band, Lee Konitz et al.
I sincerely hope so.
GOVERNMENT WARNING : SITTING IN YOUR BOAT AND READING A LOT CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC VERBOSITY .
No comments:
Post a Comment