Weekend!

At last the weekend is here. I have been swamped over on Minnesota Health IT blog with the rollout of the Federal Stimulus Bill and the new HITECH Act. See here for more information.

We were hit with a snow storm yesterday. Today is a picture perfect day here in Minnesota. Snow every where but sunny and clear.

The countdown to Wynton Marsalis continues. 8 days until the show I am attending at Minnesota Orchestra Hall. Front row, center, in case you want to stop by and chat...

Wynton Marsalis

I am counting down the days until Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra visit Minneapolis. I have managed to swing front row seats and look forward to a lively evening. I may even introduce a few photos to the blog for the first time.

In the meantime, check out Wynton and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor discussing jazz and the government.

Minnesota Orchestra

If you have not done so already, make sure to sign up for the Target Free Family Concerts with the Minnesota Orchestra. Jazz for Young People will be held on March 7th at 2:00 pm. The concerts are free but the tickets are issued via a random drawing.

Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will be answering questions and performing for approximately one hour.

In addition, the Minnesota Orchestra will be hosting the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Mr. Marsalis for live performances on March 6 and March 7, 2009.

Finally, don't forget the Minnesota Orchestra's Jazz Festival which will be held all day on March 6th at Orchestra Hall. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will be offering critiques of each performance and will perform with participants.

Wynton Marsalis: "Moving to Higher Ground"

Several weeks ago I finished reading Wynton Marsalis' recent book "Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life". The book was not intended to be a primer on jazz but rather a means of looking and listening to jazz in such a way as to apply it to all aspects of life.

I read the book with a novice's perspective and truly enjoyed it. This is a book that both aficionados and neophytes will find useful and refreshing. There was information for the newcomer in how to listen and enjoy jazz but the most interesting material was that related to using the creativity and improvisation of jazz and applying it to life in general.

I have to concur with the excellent commentary on the book jacket provided by Maya Angelou:

“Wynton Marsalis is absolutely the person who should write this book. Here he is, as young as morning, as fresh as dew, and already called one of the jazz greats. He is not only a seer and an exemplary musician, but a poet as well. He informs us that jazz was created, among other things, to expose the hypocrisy and absurdity of racism and other ignorances in our country. Poetry was given to human beings for the same reason. This book could be called “How Love Can Change Your Life,” for there could be no jazz without love. By love, of course, I do not mean mush, or sentimentality. Love can only exist with courage, and this book could not be written without Wynton Marsalis’s courage. He has the courage to make powerful music and to love the music so, that he willingly shares its riches with the entire human family. We are indebted to him.”
–Maya Angelou

If anyone can sum up in words what jazz means, it is Marsalis. And if anyone can sum up what Marsalis is and has accomplished here, it is Angelou.