Mood Indigo

Apparently, in Brazil, we're going to be teaching small Brazilian children how to play jazz. This strikes me as interesting. In most of my travels, I'm going to a destination to soak up some aspect of a foreign culture. You go specific places to experience specific things, like ancient Rome or art or whatever. I suppose the band tour was a little different. But even in that case, we weren't sharing something completely distinct to our culture. Concert band music is surprisingly popular in Japan. In a sense, foreign travel is an action based upon you gaining something. You don't really consciously think about sharing anything. I mean, you don't want to be an ass to people or give them the wrong impression, but typically you aren't attempting to share any integral aspects of your culture.

I think that's one of the cool things about our trip to Brazil. Jazz is our music, it's our only truly original art form. The fact that not only do we get to play it for people, but also attempt to explain it, that's really cool. Moreso, it will be fun. People typically associate us with bombing middle eastern countries and driving cars the size of small trains. It may be nice to be remembered for sweet music instead.

It's somewhat late at night, J.J. is playing softly on my iPod. I spent practically the whole night sitting here. Well, that's not true, I did go practice my trombone and printed off my Thomas Paine paper. But after that, I just sort of sat. It actually makes me feel sort of foolish. I wish I had been doing something. I wish I would have made coffee or tea, done something at all, instead of always waiting for something to come to me. You'd think I'd have gotten the memo, not much usually comes to me. But I suppose, it could be worse. It's kind of the price you pay, having a small group of close friends as opposed to a large group of not so close friends. Sometimes you have to spend time alone. And that's alright every once in a while.

Going along with the theme, I've been listening to a lot of jazz lately. Partly because I'm getting excited for the tour, partly because I'm trying to immerse myself as I learn chord progressions, partly because I just forgot how much I love listening to it. Tony's History of Jazz class has been a lot more fun that I had expected, it's exposing me to so much more music. That's the overwhelming thing about being a music fan, there's always so much out there. An inconceivable amount. Taking a cue from a friend, I've recently started a list of music I'd like to acquire, preferably through purchase of a physical album. It has three categories: classical, jazz, and rock. Already it's at about a page and a half. If anyone has any suggestions for my list, please let me know. I'm especially low on the rock section, aside from Sigur Rós and the Beatles.

I'm listening to Duke Ellington and Coleman Hawkins play "Mood Indigo." This is probably what heaven is like. I just love the name: Mood Indigo. What an absolutely perfect use of the English language to describe something inherently indescribable. Fun fact, Duke Ellington was an amateur painter, which partly explains the use of color in his song titles. Black and Tan Fantasy, Black, Brown, and Beige, Mood Indigo, etc. Brilliant.

Hearing stuff like this, I can't help but just thank God for allowing humanity the privilege to hear such sublime beauty. I don't know, it's something I take for granted for sure. Be it Zepp, Dylan, Beethoven, Ellington, whatever. To be able to hear such artistry, sometimes its too much to bear. I wish I could do that. I can at least try though. I like trying.


As befits an evening time post, this has gotten quite introspective. Good thing I've moved on to Bill Evans. Wish me luck on my Tom Paine presentation, ask questions if you want a 15 minute lecture on eighteenth century cosmopolitanism.

Later folks.