Share the Joy: Musical Memories

I find so much sustenance from music.

Joy, really.

There's nothing like being alone in the car,

with That Old Time Rock 'n' Roll blasting,

to lift your spirits.

Music weaves seamlessly into the soundtrack

of favorite movies, but more importantly,

becomes the soundtrack of your life.

There are those musical events that stand out.

Concerts you're glad you attended.

The first I remember,

one I'm so privileged to have attended,

was a night of Dave Brubeck.

He died today at 91, a day before his 92nd birthday.

He was a legend in the jazz world,

becoming the first jazz artist to sell a million albums.

His long-time musical partner, alto sac player Paul Desmond,

wrote the saxophone melody for the Dave Brubeck Quartet's

memorable piece "Take Five," a jazz classic in 5/4 time.

The piece became the title song for the album. 

I, as an adolescent, fancied myself a sophisticate

and intellectual, so of course,

I had to listen to jazz.

At least for a while.

Notably, and oddly, the Brubeck Quartet 

was paired in that concert with a trio. . .

Peter, Paul and Mary. 

They were, of course, too mundane and commercial

for my refined tastes.

But eventually, I got over myself,

and admitted that I was a rock girl at heart.

And stated going to other,

more age-appropriate concerts,

both then and now.

Eric Clapton, for one, had me weeping with his guitar playing.

I've gone to three Carole King concerts 

(congrats on your star on the Walk of Fame)

and loved them all,

though my favorite was at Red Rocks

outside of Denver,

sitting at the upper elevations of the amphitheater,

watching the lights of Denver twinkle

on a warm summer evening

and learning the meaning of a Rocky Mountain High.

Who else?

Jimmy Buffett concerts are. . . unique.

The Beach Boys were fun, both

as older-than me guys

and older-than-dirt ones.

I never got the chance to see the Beatles,

but a girls' night to see Sir Paul

was a highlight,

even if he didn't look like this any longer

and he was married to that upstart Heather Mills.

  

Elton John puts on quite a show

(we took the kids to one, but when we asked

if they wanted to see him again the next time

he came to Seattle, they reared back in disgust

and said, "That's a concert for old people."

Ouch!)

and so does Celine Dion

(and those tickets were complimentary,

always a bonus).

But perhaps the most moving concert

I ever attended was on the Sunday evening

after September 11, 2011.

James Taylor was scheduled to play Seattle's Key Arena.

No planes were flying, of course.

He and his entourage were traveling

 the broken-hearted land by bus.

They'd just played Portland.

I hadn't planned to go,

but at the last minute was offered VIP tickets

in a catered private box,

so my bff and I jumped at the chance.

It was pure, unadulterated magic.

Like a big healing band-aid applied

right to the heart.

JOY!

That's what I'm talking about.

And I give myself a big dose

whenever I put on the headphones

and start up my ipod playlists.

What gives you JoY?

Please share!

1. do a post that tells and shows what gives you joy.

2. capture the URL of the specific post and paste it into 

the Mr. Linky box along with your info.

3. Visit other players and let their joy infect you.

Leave them a comment because everyone

 enJOYS getting positive feedback.

Let's start an epidemic of JOY!