March 23rd, 2012

when it’s good to be human

I suppose there are many wonderful things about being human but some of them exist on that precarious blade that is our desire to surprise and effect each other.

Some of this is not so good. I go get the train or the bus and in the crush of people moving I know there is one there that has done something horrific, beaten his wife, or or betrayed her friend. But there is also someone who helped a person in real need and then just left, not wanting the honor or attention that comes with “hero”.

And on that bus: there is someone there whose hands can turn pigment into splendour and objects into sound-frenzied maenads jumping to a unified rhythm. Then, I remember, it’s good to be human today.

So much of this later, more comforting, form of being sapiens has been made possible by social media. The flash mob, for example.

In a time when there are so many of us, instead of getting people to concerts and coffee shops for music and readings, you simply go to where they already are. Brilliant really. Go in, play, delight, and leave. A moment of actual “sapiens” for everyone.

December 5th, 2011

awesome on a number of levels

via EG on FB – thanks

November 26th, 2011

love this steppin

November 16th, 2011

try this

I’m assuming most of you don’t know ASL well enough to follow much of what is being said in this performance. So if that’s the case, try this. Mute your system and just watch them. Not just their hands, but all of them. How they move, how they use space and their bodies in space. See what you get. Write down somethings about how they feel, what they are communicating to you.

Then turn up your volume.

I bet the sound track isn’t too much of a surprise.

October 2nd, 2011

awesome/art/music

This comes from Playing for Change. Satchita is also really good. You can visit their website too.

September 8th, 2011

she is awesome

Her name is Carol Kaye. She’s a studio bassist and very interesting woman.

via Gregory Spatz

September 4th, 2011

frog and snake on Lux Aeterna

Totally the best use of Lux Aeterna I’ve ever seen. And funny. And puts humans in their proper place as far as the drama of life goes.

via Wimp

I have some music of Baaba Maal on my ipod but I hadn’t seen the vids that go with them before today. What wonderful joy in the sheer physicality of life.

I walked and walked today. After 15 days my headache has lifted. I came home to Toppah and Yazzie singing and Groulx speaking from his book Under god’s pale bones.

Start this video and while Toppah and Yazzie are singing read the poem by Groulx. You’ll get a sense of how well I feel today.

Drummer's directions

They are making the sound of the rain
they are making the sound of the rain

four singers are calling across the sky

eyes closed

mouths open
they are sitting in the four ways of the wind

singing
that we will get our bearings

(by David A. Groulx)

Also so cool.