A woman and her friend are walking down the sidewalk when they come
upon a frog. The frog looks up at them and says, "Please help me. I'm a jazz
saxophonist and a witch put a horrible spell on me and turned me into a frog. If
one of you picks me up and kisses me, the spell will be broken and I'll turn
back into a jazz saxophonist. I'll marry you, play the most beautiful songs for
you all the time, take you to all my gigs if you want, and we'll live happily
ever after."
The woman picks up the frog, puts it in her handbag and starts walking
away very quickly. Her friend runs to catch up to her and asks, "Aren't you
going to kiss the frog?!" The woman replies, "Hell NO! A talking frog is worth a
helluva lot more than a jazz saxophonist!"
Laughing out loud is a good idea when something scary seems a bit
too real. Making a living as a jazz musician is both a privilege and a
supreme challenge. Some nights I am haunted by the question, "How
do I know the value of my life's work when it
is rarely acknowledged with generous financial rewards and
widespread public appreciation?" Let's consult a wise
person:
"One should guard against preaching to young people success in
the customary form as the main aim in life. The most important motive for work
in school and in life is pleasure in work, pleasure in its result, and the
knowledge of the value to the rest of the
community."
--Albert Einstein, theoretical
physicist
OK, Einstein. Playing music is definitely a pleasure.
But how do I know that my music has value in the world? Who else can help
me out here?
"There is no value in life except what you choose to place upon
it and no happiness in any place except what you bring to it
yourself."
--Henri David Thoreau, poet and
philosopher
Well, shut me up! Come on out to my upcoming shows and
see a musician full of joy. I'll be the one in the frog
costume.
with drummer Rob Rhodes and
B-3 organist Wayne De La
Cruz
Half Moon Bay Brewing Company
(650) 728-2739
390
Capistrano Road
Princeton By The Sea, CA
6 - 9 pm, no
cover
Wednesday, November 8
SFJAZZ FESTIVAL
featuring saxophonist Sonya Jason
vocalists Linda Tillery and Pamela Rose
New York drummer Allison Miller with
Montclair Women's Big Band, Ellen Seeling
Director
The Great American Music Hall
859 O'Farrell
Street
San Francisco, CA
8:00 pm
tickets & info. 1-800-225-2277
(toll-free)
with guitarist Jeff Buenz and
acoustic bassist Perry
Thoorsell
Half Moon Bay Brewing Company
(650)
728-2739
390 Capistrano Road
Princeton By The Sea, CA
6 - 9 pm, no
cover