WMV Music Web Log

Feeling philosophical, so...

I dreamed last night that the library stacker picked up my journal for reshelving as I shouted helplessly in protest. I looked in one room after another for it, but there were no books, only laboratory equipment, fraction collectors, HPLCs, reagent bottles, cold room stuff. What a nightmare!

Two people have mentioned a feeling of dread lately, and I feel that a little too. Are we going to suffer another terrorist attack? Is there just so much danger in the news that it's getting to us? Is the weather too warm for January?

There are definitely benefits to this age (57) which feels like the beginning of eldership. My dad, in his mid-80's, is a nice reminder that there is considerable potential life to be lived. Nevertheless, I feel the beginning of an amused detachment from things - elected representatives behaving foolishly, crooks and injustice in the world (surprise), people getting agitated about silly things, fashions coming and going, and so on. The world looks like a breathable tsunami, at least for now.

NSO's Richard Barber playing David Teie's arrangement of "Seventeen". Isn't that a beautiful bass? And he plays it well, too. (photo Marilyn Banner)

David Teie and Carl Banner playing "Radio Songs". This one is probably "I'm Losing You" - it was really rock 'n' roll. (photo Marilyn Banner)

Colin Jennings, guitar, at David Teie's Millennium Stage concert January 13. He is really good, has a unique way of picking with both hands. David heard him outside the KC (maybe he had set up near the river?), was amazed, and invited him to perform inside the KC - a great story!




(photos by Marilyn Banner)

Here is Marilyn's studio at VCCA. She liked it a lot!

Today we (Alice Sims, Marilyn Banner, Donald Depuydt, and I) installed Marilyn's Soul Ladders at the Waddell Art Gallery of Northern Virginia Community College, Loudoun Campus. They look great! Go see them (January 16-February 10, M-F 9am-7pm, info 703-450-2627). There will be a reception with the artist on Saturday January 28, 1pm-3pm. I might bring the Kawai and play some music. The Waddell Art Gallery is on the Loudoun campus, Harry Byrd Highway (Rt.7/Leesburg Pike) - check your maps.

Hey, if you want to view the video of last night's performance at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, it is already up as the January 13 event at:

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/archive.html#

The performance, part of the NSO Prelude Series, features David Teie, composer and cellist, performing his own music, with NSO players, a fabulous guitarist David met playing on the street outside the KC (!), and me. It is very cool music, and well played (if we do say so ourselves).

What I especially liked about David's "Radio Songs" is that they really are a hybrid of classical and rock, just the kind of thing I have been looking for. They start about 23 minutes into the performance. The solo suite and string quartet that precede them are well worth hearing, however. David's cello playing is astonishingly beautiful, as always.

Carl,

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the concert last Tuesday night!!!
As someone who did not grow up with classical music, believe it or not, this was the first all Mozart program I have ever attended. I heard the music in a way I have not heard it before. Brilliant, overflowing with soulfulness and joy, a feast for the hungry heart! Thanks so much for being true to the Muse, and true to your calling. It is food that we all need, whether we know it or not. You and Marilyn deserve a lot of kudos for staying faithful over these many years.

Keep on keeping on,
Jesse

www.jessepal.com
www.azaleacityrecordings.com

(Jesse Palidofsky is a terrific singer/songwriter/keyboard player and a wonderful guy - coming from him, these words mean a lot to me. Check out his CD on Azalea Records - it's full of genuineness, soul, and great music-making!)