The Esperanza Spalding concert I attended the other evening was a boomer flashback to the music I first began seriously listening to as a young(er) woman. I cut my teeth on live jazz in Europe where people listened and got involved with the music. Here’s how her jazz recital affected me.
It was my second time seeing Spalding. Her Chamber Music Society recording, which dropped this past August, includes 2 violinists, a celloist, drummer, pianist, one background singer and Esperanza, who plays upright bass and is also a vocalist. My anticipation for what was to come had me on edge. I was excited because Esperanza though only 26 years old is a highly developed artist and her music can stretch time. This is alchemy, you know.
In that field of creativity, I am ageless. I remember what it means to just let go and see things, as Oprah says, “as they really are.” This is one of my strategies for aging young: create opportunities to practice being present and one with the event as often as you can and then go for it.
Because Esperanza’s music is on a trajectory of public awareness some people responded negatively when the Grammy’s announced that she had beat Justin Bieber out for Best New Artist of the year. But this is not what is important. I recommend that you get with whomever is your cup of tea so that you can have this kind of experience and be one with it. This will keep you young.
Have you had this experience of transcending time? Please share what was happening? Were you asleep or awake?
boomrwiz says
Thank you Anu Prestonia for visiting the site and for sharing your viewpoint. And yes I am always looking for ways to practice this skill.
Anu Prestonia says
Becoming one with your experience does freeze time and allows one to be timeless, because you enter another realm, the realm of Being instead of doing. I experience this with music on a regular basis whether recorded or live.
Thank you Pat for reminding us of this priceless realm that is always accessible to all of us. And those of us of a ‘certain age’, should take full advantage of this wonderful practice, that suspends time and allows us to experience our wholeness.