Remembering Sparkys music appreciation and his nurturing of musicians, singers, and appreciating music in others. We were opposites in one aspect of music: I often dont hear lyrics in songs, literally and/or I dont make sense of them, dont string the words together and dont understand what the lyrics mean. Yet Im above-average tuned into the instrumental side, hearing all kinds of stuff, and get very moved by it. I think its some kind of ASD like dyslexia. Fortunately I could hear Sparkys singing words and understand his lyrics. Sparky, like some other singers I know, aside from percussion, mostly only heard the instrumental side as background and texture for the singing. E.g. when I first met him he was often bored by musicians jamming and soloing whereas I gladly would have spent my life doing jamming myself if I was any good at it. I remember in our earliest years, I was watching Oscar Peterson, that great jazz pianist, on TV play. I was silently crying in happiness, at Oscars sophisticated and fun playing and how much it spoke to me. Sparky came into the room. Was surprised. Asked me whats wrong. I explained. He kissed me and held my hand for a while. Subsequently he always encouraged me to play music that moved me, supported my amateurish piano playing (and he made Aphrodites Song out of one of my melodies/jams), encouraged me to go listen to jazz and jam bands, and went with me to see movies of such, even though it all didnt mean much primarily to him, not his natural bent. He would ask me what I thought of the musicians backing up singers. He learned from me, e.g., when it seemed the musicians were enjoying each other and adding their own touches. He told me of singers he heard and talked with. He so appreciated them. Over the years, also, more and more, he talked about musicians he heard and talked with. Early on, we watched together that famous Janis Joplin film clip (Monterey Pop?). Per usual, the vocals werent moving me (thankfully, Sparkys vocals always moved me) and my attention kept wandering to what Big Brother and the Holding Companys instruments were doing. I asked him what was so great about Janis and this performance. He said shes singing it like its her first time singing it, shes really feeling it, shes making us feel it too. Subsequently he taught me more about singers and appreciating them. Today, Im feeling heartache a lot, stalling on things I gotta do, things I better do or things will get worse. I dont want to give the message to my physical heart of aching but singing... well, listening... to the blues is a way to get it out and get on with things. I wish I still had an acoustic piano so I could wrap myself up in the sonorities of the wood. I wish I could sing but cant (yet?). So Im listening over and over to the slow soulful singing of Gloria Estefan, knowing Sparky would also appreciate her singing. And Im tangling up my mind in the sophisticated piano playing of Shelly Berg. Sparky would at least appreciate the intensity, interaction, and support from Shelly. Sing it on out... youtube/watch?v=95GtIFu6RQk
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 02:24:33 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015