Saturday, March 18, 2006

I want to quit my job and start a band.

So who's with me?? :)

My Aunt Jane* toured for a while, so why can't I??

Last Sunday after church, we had our quarterly meeting and lunch together. It was honestly one of my favourite days thus far (even more fun that parasailing!), and it's because of the people. We discussed the general direction of the church, upcoming activities, responsibilities, and who's to clean which windows in the gymnasium.

Everyone here is so laid-back, comfortable and natural with one another... they're like one big family, and it's great. After lunch, everyone was just lounging around in the youth room in the back of the church. The adults were chatting; some of the kiddos were goofing off on the computer; others were playing soccer in the gymnasium; Sydney and Eleanor's son (who could easily be one of the Little Rascals) were playing the piano and guitar; and Bizarro Mom's husband was on the couch snoozing through it all. It was hilarious.

Ok, let's take a brief break and learn a new German word...

bequem - comfortable, easygoing, cozy

"sich bequem machen" - to make yourself at home


It's a nice word, with very warm and positive connotations.

Back to the music... I was completely mesmerized and transfixed by Sydney and the Little Rascal's improv abilities. They'd written out a chord and rhythm pattern, and were simply following it in circles. The Little Rascal plucked away at his guitar, providing the beat and the primary chords... and Sydney somehow managed to spontaneously create a melody (which was quite chaotic at times, but lovely nonetheless).

It was very jazzy (I even learned the jazz scale!), and the brilliant thing about jazz music is that even when you play the "wrong" notes, or notes outside of the scale, it sounds right. As long as you're generally within a certain schema or scale, it all somehow works out.

I've always been amazed by people who can improv... it definitely takes a special talent. Sure, I can read notes to a certain extent, but's it's so mechanical and dull compared to what others can do. I think I've been bitten by the green-eyed monster. ;)


*name unchanged and privacy unprotected


Lyric of the day: "There's lots and lots for us to see... lots and lots for us to do... if she is electric, can I be electric too?" (Thanks to Oasis)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Babe, I'll start a band with you. And I'll even wear eyeliner.

Anonymous said...

Concerning of the jazz?

Do you remember the special evening with the jazzy song:

"....
After one whole quart of brandy
Like a daisy, I'm awake
With no Bromo-Seltzer handy
I don't even shake

Men are not a new sensation
I've done pretty well I think
But this half-pint imitation
Put me on the brink

I'm wild again, beguiled again
A simpering, whimpering child again
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I
...."


It was quite nice, wasn't it?
Wanted to say, those songs are quite nice. I love them!

Anonymous said...

Hey Helmut! Thanks for the comment... yup, of course I remember that song, and 'twas quite lovely.

We really ought to start a revival and bring back all those classic crooner pieces. Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra... what a genre.