MANY WORLDS ( April 2001)

In my CD player
(aside from cat hair)
"Songs of Distant Earth" Mike Oldfield
"Stories to Play" Chris Cunningham

Reading
Tea Leaves
Head Lumps

Movies I've ALMOST just seen
Almost Famous

Television
PBS special hosted by Alan Alda about the obliteration of the Chimpanzee population (humans can really suck)
Helen Van Wyck's portraiture lesson
The Simpsons
An old episode of Babylon 5

Latest Thoughts

Last night I went out to a club in NYC called The Cutting Room. I saw two performers there. The first, was there in a warm-up capacity. I didn't catch her name, but I think that's fortunate because my opinion of her set was not glowing.

She was lovely to look at. A statuesque model-type with long blond hair and a perfect face. She opened her mouth to sing and out came the worst drivel I could ever imagine.Oh her voice was adequate.....(she sang better than my 1st grade teacher - Sister Mary Suffermuch). But the music, which was strummed out on an acoustic guitar, was absolutely middle-of-the-road mediocre. She had the act down - all the right faces for the emotions......sad, in love, heart-broken blah blah blah. While she sang, I wept at the irony.

To be sure, she felt everything she sang. She is undoubtedly being genuine. But you can't hide mediocrity. I am a hard-ass. This I know. What got me so upset about this poor, unfortunate recipient of my ire, was this; Here was this painfully average musician, playing in a very nice room in Manhattan, to a crowd of respectful, non-smoking listeners. She was treated well and her guest players (two other guitarists) were brilliant musicians and obviously loyal to her. The best players I know couldn't book this room or anything comparable in Manhattan. It's a tough city for gigging. Most players have to PAY to play and the clubs are always loud, raucous and smokey, with rigid set-times. Yet this beautiful girl got a lovely spot in a lovely room and started her set about 30 minutes late. It forced me to wonder whether it was because people REALLY want to hear THAT music, or because she looked DAMNED GOOD.

Maybe it was a little of both. She seemed to me, like an aspiring actress in New York more than a musician. She announced that she had an album or two if anyone was interested. Eeew. I wish her luck, though somehow I think she won't need my wishes.

The second spot was held by an artist named Amanda Homi. She came out, and filled the room with a kind of grace that only worldly experience can create. Her music, realized by a staggeringly gifted group of musicians, was world-beat, well-crafted, with not a wasted note or moment. This woman sang about things that made me want to know more. What's more, she studies different types of percussion from around the world and played while she sang. She never posed or acted....instead, she laughed outloud at herself and made the audience feel accepted. She was brilliant. She announced an upcoming album and I was heartened to hear it.

Why am I ranting about this? Because it played on my heart deeply. Ms. Homi is a gifted, older woman, (by that, I mean older than 25). She is musically captivating.Will she sell millions of records and become world-famous? Quite possibly not, although I hope that for her. Whereas the other woman, who was not nearly as bad as I portrayed (don't forget that I'm a hard-ass), is already receiving treatment that her talent doesn't command. The world of music is harsh indeed. And I think it's a microcosm of our greater society. Yes, I'm aware that I've become somewhat embittered. And you know, I cannot claim to be in the same predicament. MY career is what it is because of the choices I've made. Not because of the ills of society. But I do fear for the future brilliant artists. Brilliance is not necessarily studied. It's a "shine".

So in closing, let me apologize to the woman who poured her heart out only to be stomped by some random chick in the audience. I'm sorry. I know she deserves more than what I gave her. But she served my purpose of illustrating a point. All creativity is good. No doubt about that. I do however, wish (as I know all of you do), that meaningful artists didn't have to struggle and fizzle away without due recognition.

I leave you with the burning question: Why do parents in our country often try to dissuade their young from becoming musicians? In other countries, musicians are "bred" and tutored for their instrument from birth. It is NOT an option. It is an honored obligation. Is the job of "musician" a less important or deserving job than any other? I fear that answer.

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