Thursday, September 24, 2009

Part One - Conversations I would Love to Have With Living Greats

Having completed a series of choices related to conversations I would have enjoyed sharing with legends of the past, I thought that I might relate to you conversations I would enjoy sharing with those among the living:
My first choice would be the great pop pianist, George Shearing, whom I have written about in previous blogs.
I would greatly enjoy participating in banter with this man for the following reasons:
First of all, I do have a bit of an advantage, having had a discussion with him many years ago at a hotel he was performing in, which lasted about an hour.
As a young musician just starting out, it was indeed a thrill to be with him on a one-to-one basis. His agreeing to share his time with me was an example of how really charming and gracious the man is, and how good a listener he was; truly, I have found that most of the great talents who have crossed my path in this life have been very warm and genuine, with very little, if any, social hubris.
At this time in my life, I would be thoroughly warmed and fulfilled if I were to once again meet and talk with him, now that I have so much more knowledge and perspective about this mystery we call Music, than I did when we first talked.
His gentle, low-key way of discussing issues, followed by a truly open ear to reaction, let alone his inextinguishable and constant humor, form a combination which most efficiently opens the door to the genius that accompanies his humanity.
And above all, his perspectives about the two worlds of music he has constantly been conversant with; namely, classical and popular, and this unique synthesis which forms the Shearing Language - well, I would certainly allow him to do all the talking.
I cannot think of a great musician of our time I would enjoy being with more, in the enjoyable art of conversation.

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1 Comments:

Blogger Mary Kunz Goldman said...

LH, I like your perspective on artists who have crossed your path. I write about music & have the same experience ... if anyone gives you problems, it is almost always someone playing the corner bar. Whereas the greatest pianists and conductors in the world are always so nice! It's funny how that works.

September 25, 2009 at 4:01 AM  

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