Jazz in Real Life

On Tuesday at lunch time I went to a very nice- pleasant, great- jazz concert while I ate a chicken sandwich. The group that was playing was a very good quartet. They featured piano, bass, drums and tenor sax, with a guest player on alto sax and clarinet. I had a great time. The sun was shining. The music was good. People kept coming and going, but they were not distracting. Everything was perfect.

It was while I was completely engrossed in the music that it occurred to me that Jazz music is like real life. Stick with me. I think you will agree.

• Jazz music keeps going no matter what. The piano player can get a cramp in his fingers, but the music continues. The sax player may cough, but nothing stops. Life is like that too. No matter what happens things keep going. Steve Miller said that time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin' into the future. Its true.
• In Jazz music, anything can happen. Jazz is built on the principle of improvisation. That is, all the musicians know the framework of the number. They are aware of the tempo, the tune and the basic structure of the song, but when it is time to solo... anything goes. If that is not a reflection of real life I don't know what is. You have a general idea of what the next week, or year, will be like but then someone dies, or the stock market crashes. Anything can happen so be prepared for it.
• Jazz is filled with emotion. When Jazz is really good you do not hear it so much as you feel it. Jazz goes beyond the senses to the heart and soul of people. Jazz, like no other music, helps you get in touch with your inner self, your emotions. And as much as we try, life is emotional. Every day is a sensory-emotional explosion waiting to happen.

Here's what you should do: Listen to jazz, at least for today. And realize that God is in control. Things will happen. Keep going.