The Pacific

Listening to a legend

Thanks to an early alert by our friends at Belltown Bent we got tickets early and last week had a front row seat to hear Oscar Peterson. Watching this legendary jazz pianist enter Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley in a wheel chair I was reminded of something Miles Davis (another jazz legend) once said: “A legend is an old man with a cane known for what he used to do. I’m still doing it.” And, indeed, so is Oscar Peterson.

Since his stroke in 1993, Peterson (now 81) has lost some of the power of his left hand but none of the power of his spirit. He is still playing the piano better than most musicians in their prime and he clearly thrives on the energy of the audience. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of us could love what we do that much and do it that well. Oscar Peterson is more than a great musician; he is an inspiration.

Image taken by Bob at the performance August, 2006,

It's quite a life

The Northwest Folklife Festival celebrated its 35th year this Memorial Day weekend with an estimated 250,000 people who came to celebrate the diversity of the region with special emphasis on the Arab communities. Music, dancing, and crafts provided by over 6000 musicians and artists filled Seattle Center, a 74 acre park in the middle of the city that is home to the iconic space needle, and food from every nationality gave visitors a chance to really taste the various cultures.

Singers and songwriters Molly Mason and Jay Ungar (their Lover's Waltz is one of my favorite albums ever) led a special benefit concert on Saturday evening and followed it up with a free concert the following day. They were joined by the Mammals, a young group that includes Jay's daughter Ruth Ungar and describes itself as "subversive acoustic traditionalists." An exciting and innovative group, their song "Follow Me to Carthage," written by band member Michael Merenda, is one of the best protests songs I've heard in a long time.

Image: One of the many musicians performing at the Festival, May 2006.