I guess I'm starting to feel like my father. It pains me to say that. You see, my dad gets upset when people he admired (or was a fan of) die. He goes through this ritual where he gets really, vocally, physically upset. Then he scours newspapers and the internet looking for the obituaries to read, and even print off to keep. Well, I've had some personal giants to me die recently, and they seem to be dropping like flies as of late. And two of them, I already know my Dad is reeling over.
The jazz guitarist Jim Hall died last week. Now up until two years ago, I didn't know much about him. However, when I start liking a musician, I start to try and unearth all of their recordings to collect and listen to. Jim Hall was one of those musicians. His guitar work is impeccable, and hard to be matched by anyone. Moreover, he was great person. You never read anything negative about him at all. If anything, every story talks of how endearing and personable he was. Luckily, I was able to see him live at Blues Alley in DC just last year. I went with my wife to see him play in a quartet known as Grand Slam. A grand slam it truly was, featuring Hall, Joe Lovano, George Mraz, and Lewis Nash. I took the one cd with me that they released. As Hall exited the stage, he was being escorted by someone helping him get along. He was up there in age, 82, and needed some assistance. He saw I had the cd on the table, and asked "Would you like me to sign that?" I replied "Of course!" He was so gracious and talked with us a bit, and I was able to get the rest of the band to sign it as well. It's a shame that he's gone, that I won't be able to see him play again. Also a shame that his death wasn't featured on the news and that many people don't know his music. Another jazz great died today as well, Horace Silver. I didn't know Silver until I viewed the documentary "A Great Day in Harlem" many years ago with my Dad. Even at that time, Silver was only one of a few folks left that were featured in that iconic jazz photo of 1958. He was a kind, gentle, intelligent man who had such respect for music in general, let alone jazz. He was always one I wanted to meet, or see live. Unfortunately that never happened. Yet, I can always listen to one of his great pieces, "Song for My Father." That way his legacy will stay around. Every time I listen to it I tear up a little as it reminds me of my Dad in many ways. A great piece of music! And as the same with Hall, a shame that his death wasn't featured on the news and that many people don't know his music. With plenty of questionable stuff out there like Miley Cyrus, Beiber and the like, expose children to positive role models that are serious musicians such as those mentioned above. It just might be a small step in making the world a better place.
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Another great night at Politics & Prose in DC. I flew out of school today at the end of Yearbook class to get there in time to get a bite to eat and a seat. The author Deborah Solomon was giving a talk and Q & A on her new book about Norman Rockwell, American Mirror. I'm a big fan of the author. I read the biography she did on Jackson Pollock when I was nearing the end of high school. It was one of many things that cemented my desire to become an art teacher. And then 15 years ago she did another biography, this time on the artist Joseph Cornell. Both of them were very good. Her biography of Pollock is overshadowed by the large bio that Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith compiled. That book was later turned into the movie on Pollock starring Ed Harris. The book (and the movie) received critical acclaim, including a Pulitzer for the authors. However, that bio is over 900 pages. If you're looking for something smaller, and not so overwhelming to pick up, the Solomon bio of Pollock is good. She will say though that it's not her best book. It was her first and she thinks Pollock was "too big" for her to tackle. The Cornell bio was really great. Such an interesting life, yet sad at the same time. Similar to Van Gogh in many ways. Although, that could take some time to fully explain that. Much like the Pollock, the Cornell bio is an easy read. Full of great information, and really delves into many facets of his life. Before reading that one, I liked and appreciated Cornell a lot. After reading, I appreciated him so much more, for so many more reasons that being an artist. The biography also deepened my interest in him, and coincidentally, this all occurred at the same time as a huge show of his work was on display at the SMAA in DC. Well, overall, Deborah Solomon was great tonight. She talked for almost an hour before opening it up to questions. She told some stories about Rockwell, and writing the book, dealing with his family, etc. She had some interesting stories behind some of his painting, even comparing him a bit to Pollock because they both attended the Art Students League in NYC. (Something I did not know about Rockwell at all.) She was very gracious as well. I didn't realize that I was still wearing my county ID and she asked what I taught. This led to a pretty good conversation, which resulted in her sharing her email addy. Wow! She signed all of my books, Cornell, Pollock, and two of the Rockwell (one for my Dad for Christmas). However, there was an even bigger highlight to the night. In the crowd at P & P was a preeminent collector of Joseph Cornell work. He was integral to the writing of the Cornell bio as well as to the Smithsonian. He lent a lot of his collection to that show at SMAA. He also wrote a book to accompany the exhibit. Upon meeting him later, he asked if I had it. I answered "of course." I asked if I could send it to him to sign. He answered, "Why send it? Just come on over." Whoa! What a night... |
B.D.SchmittHusband, Father, Archives
November 2015
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