Possibilities

About two weeks ago I had the amazing pleasure of catching by accident a documentary entitled, Herbie Hancock: Possibilities. I think it came out a few years ago and it basically chronicles a year or so in Hancock’s life recording an album with the same title. The album is all collaborations with other musicians from nearly every generation and genre. From Annie Lennox to Angelique Kidjo to John Mayer to Carlos Santana to Christina Aguillera. However, my newest all time most favoritest singer now is Raul Midon. In the documentary Midon covers Stevie Wonder’s I Just Called To Say I Love You and it was pretty sick. By the way, I’m no proponent of covers especially if it’s someone’s song who will always be bringing something better to the table than you (Read: Leave grown folks to their business). And let me also say I have never heard any of this man’s music but as soon as he started singing, you could see and feel his pure intent. I officially love him and will be going out to buy all his albums (two). Midon has a pretty great position/attitude towards life , purpose and creativity; I for one am thrilled to now know of him. There’s a hot interview I found with him on Orato.com check it out when you can. Stay tuned for hearing me rant, rave and weave him into conversations relevant or not. He’s coming to Philly soon I may just check him out!

Pheew, that’s out. Yes! So back to Herbie who I have a little bit of a crush on now. If you’re interested he’s an Aries, born in Chicago, turns 68 this month and looks good, you know daper and elder statesman like (Herbie, holla when you get a little down town and you’re in the big city!). But seriously I was a bit taken aback when I realized here was this great, prolific, accomplished and humble artist still endeavoring to connect and have that creative dialogue/process with other artists. For me it was one of those things that you know is true but you have to learn it again so you can act/affirm that truth in your living again. I was also into how he took care not to stand in anyone’s creative way. At one point I think he’s in the studio with John Mayer who is understandably intimidated. So John really wants a bit of direction and Hancock says somehting like you’re John Mayer I invited you to come here and do what John Mayer does. Then he goes into a short but very poignant reflection on Miles Davis and says, “Miles never really cared what you were working on as long as you were working on something. That’s what a master teacher does, they let you reveal yourself.”

Basically I learned again what I already knew but stopped living temporarily; no one creates in isolation and I think to endeavor to do so would kill the process. Even if it’s just you and your loom (whatever) you were out in the world interacting with somebody and/or something and that imp[acted you and all of that is “woven” into what you create. Word.