Meditation on Green Chimneys

The joint is jumpin'
Horns poppin'
Bass thumpin'
The music moves forward,
taking with it everyone in the room.
Musicians are groovin'
listeners clappin'
drums joinin'
on a a train that moves
passengers to a new place.
Wynton's screamin'
Bandmates yellin'
snare drum snappin'
back in response to what the trumpet says
highs, lows, and everything in between
Conversation brewin'
Saxophone trillin'
the train's a comin'
The whistle blows a hip sound
makes you want to dance.

In The Afterglow

In the afterglow a trumpet speaks,
Giving voice to a mass of people.
Tired, spent from a night of revelry
and excitement, the voice says little;
only memory of the time past.
A time which was full of fire,
Heat
Connection
Jazz
But the memory is faded, nostalgic but new.
Filled with a new promise;
The promise of latenight and romance
and the union which so defines humanity.
Harmon mute shapes the trumpet's tone,
giving it that voice of chill,
Passion
Fusion
Jazz
A trumpet plays "In The Afterglow".

Life in the summer

The summer months have an interesting feel to them. I keep feeling this sense that I am not doing what I need to as the days go by. I remember all of things I promised to accomplish and few of them seem to have happened, and as the days slip away into the fog of the past I realize that the first day of classes looms ahead. it has a death grip on my summer of opportunity and soon all of the oife will be squeezed out of my hopeful frined and I will be left with nothing but a new companion who is less forgiving and never lets me relax.
But I must remember that this is the first summer where I have really been practicing bass (not piano as I should be but at least I'm on the right track). Also, I'm doing a job that has strange hours and cataloging Dr. Self's books which takes up much of my hoped for free time. Well, there's still the string camp and Andrew's cabin to add to my summertime memories, and by the time the school year rools around I'm always ready for it to begin.

Beautiful Scenery

I thought I would post a picture from my trip to Germany and Austria. This shot is from Salzburg and was taken near the fortress. It was an incredible view and helps to remind me that God is still here. I'm too tired right now to add to this so I'll let the picture speak for itself.

a thought

It's late. Bars have made their last call, sending their patrons into the unforgiving night. Places like uptown are filled with a frenzy of activity. Street corners are jammed with people thinking; what next? Parents have gone to bed. Their children, asleep long ago, are unaware of what goes on in the final hours of a day. Man and woman embrace, sharing one of God's most precious gifts. But now that time has passed and as they lie next to each other they pause to think; what next? A young man begins to walk, unable to sleep and needing to clear his head. This time is full of stillness; an intangible force lingering in the air which tells the young man he is entirely alone. His walk brings him past familiar places. Objects that he knows in daylight take on a new charcter in the dark. At times foreboding, his surroundings are also full of this stillness. His mind begins to wander and ponder the greater things in life. He mulls over thoughts of love, happiness, sucess, God, and life in general. Questions are answered with more questions while the night continues to say nothing...except stillness.
He wonders what he will do when school begins again:Will he suceed in his classes? Will his friendships grow? Will he find love in friends, family, and relationships? He also wonders what will happen tomorrow and the next day: Will his job pay well enough for him to repay his debts? Will he continue to keep to a schedule and not waste his time? Will God forgive him for not going to church? Is he even a Christian anymore?
He stops to pray... that same prayer he always says that attmepts to make up for weeks or even months of silence. Many times the young man is like tonight's surroundings; saying nothing except stillness. God calls to him but he ingores. He doesn't know where to begin, what to say, or what to do. All he can think is.... what next?