March 6

I'm up too late on a Sunday night, once again.

A necessary weekend, overall. After Mike's murder last week, we are all shaken. In the immortal words of Bonobo (ft. Bajka), "Music is the healer, no matter who you are." 

I visited Nonie for the first time since the Before Times yesterday. Played with the fabulously talented Irene Jalenti. What a treat that was. Everything about that visit healed me. I want to remember chilling on the street in Bethesda before the gig, eating a piece of bread with chocolate and reading The Hobbit. I want to remember the conversations with Nonie's interesting friends and guests and her children. I want to remember the two-way communication and connection I had with Irene as we played. That fed me. 

And, of course, I want to remember belting out all the lyrics to The Blind Leaving the Blind. What a masterpiece that is. I want to remember how good I sounded, and how empowered I was after listening to it all the way through. Feeling heard boosts your confidence. Seeing what they have achieved pushes me to do more.

That continued tonight, as I listened to more of my new favorite jazz group, Foehn Trio. I think the word that best describes them is fresh. I haven't heard jazz that original and new and interesting and wonderful since I heard E.S.T. for the first time. 

I need to return to this article, this space. Let this be a reminder that my soul feels fed when I listen to groups like this, and when I play music with good people, for good people.