Yesterday thanks to my friends at Heads Up International I ended up taking an un-planned day away from all things electronic to enjoy a Private VIP Dress Rehearsal prior to her world tour of a Jazz Singer named Esperanza Spalding. I wasn't very familiar with her work, but I am very grateful for the opportunity to have attended a very lovely reception, the actual Dress Rehearsal and the very enlightening Questions & Answers session conducted immediately after.
While we braved a freak storm to get to the venue, and a bit of confusion in getting underway. The venue was intimate, absolutely perfect for capturing the nuances of Esperanza's powerful voice. Her first name translates into 'hope', and right from the very moment she took the stage, I felt hope, hope that there is still 'real' music out there to pass down. She's a musician's musician, who was at ease jamming with her team of amazing musicians and accompanying vocalists. The emotion is still raw, you can tell the 'bigness' that is now encompassing her life, her style and her music yet it is still very new. Much for her to take in I'm sure!
After her captivating debut last year, 25 year old bassist Esperanza Spalding is back for an encore by popular demand. Blending innovative vocal stylings with uncanny instrumental chops, she has already taken the jazz world by storm, performing with such distinguished musicians as Stanley Clarke, Dave Samuels, Pat Metheny and others. Clearly an up and coming star,she performed at the White House in February, 2009 and was also invited to play at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in honor of President Obama. That's BIG!
I love all kinds of music, and apparently so too does Esperanza, there were hints of all kinds of world music in her repertoire, including Argentinean, Brazilean, South African and more. During the Questions And Answers Period, many questions led back to what her influences are and who inspires her, lyrically she cited many great writers, from Herman Melville to Pablo Neruda and musically from Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Beyonce to work from her bandmates who seem to constantly surprise and inspire one another. And her take on the globalization influences in Art was very much spot on. These influences were certainly seen during her set!
There is just something about sitting in a room with Jazz Lovers, you can feel 'one love' amongst people who are passionate for pure music, raw emotion, transcendent flow, it reminds you of similarities and makes differences so irrelevant they disappear, it unites you with perfect strangers. It can even turn a perfect stranger into a friend.
I came back from the concert, renewed, invigorated and energized. The chance to step away from all things technology based, and connect myself with something more powerful, like song, emotion, communion, and a gathering of energy through music; I feel totally renewed!
I plan to reach out to her label in an effort to host a review & giveaway of her album 'Chamber Music Society' which had it's debut as the #1 Jazz Album on iTunes and has remained at #1 for 7 days since release, #65 iTunes Top 200 (Peak #46). And I can tell you it's for good reason that her album attained #1 in it's debut status, her sound took me to that Speakeasy jazz club referenced in movies that I've never actually been to (because I was just too young or in some cases not even born yet!), it transported me to a place of elegant gowns and men in sharp suits, to dancing, standing up and laughing all night long, to drinks with snazzy names and simple ingredients, to night's I didn't want to see end, to that place in my mind I go during a long bubble bath with jazz playing in the background. . . .it just plain took me places. How much of today's 'modern' sounds can you say actually transport you? to somewhere you WANT to stay!
I came home inspired enough to want to see a real inspiration shared today! I was going to put up a giveaway today to help get us caught up so we'll be ready for the Holiday 2010 Buying Guide, but this feeling of inspiration was just too good to put off for another day!
All I know is that I spent a day 'dis-connecting' to actually 're-connect' today. You know I oftentimes tell you all to 'disconnect from your 'electronic umbilical cords', and connect to an un-tapped source of a different kind, Yourself. Your Soul. Your Needs. The needs outside the emails, texts, tweets and facebook 'likes'.
Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud today 'I will be inspired by MY world. I will be inspired by my voice. Today I will seek out the communion of kindred spirits be it at a concert, coffee shop, record store, or place of worship, I will actively seek out a way to uplift my spirit through sound, be it an instrument, my voice or listening in appreciation to music I truly appreciate and re-explore it's value in my life right NOW!'
Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about profound and powerful changes in your life.
Visualize yourself manifesting something unique, guided by universal forces that emerge spontaneously from within your soul. Do this at least twice today and see how by taking a moment away from the hectic pace and breathing in positive energy and affirming what you wish to create, your thinking will become different.
Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.
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Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!
Active Giveaways:
1)
Ends TODAY - 09/14 - 3pm Eastern Standard Time - "Fall Into Bags' - Elliott Lucca's Granada Trapezoid Satchel in Twilight Giveaway!
HERE (Folks this is one of the hottest bags in Fall's Hot Color, with the trendy turnlock closure showing up on the cool bags this fall, You don't want to miss your chance to win this one!)
2)
Ends 09/17 - Back to School with Play-Doh Sesame Street Shape & Spin Elmo Playset Giveaway
HERE
3) Coming Soon: Ascending Butterfly's Monthly Book Club Returns!!!
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