What are musician's for?  What is music for?  Are we in this universe to produce a "joyful noise unto (or through) the 'Gourd'"?  Or to paint dark sonic images of the horrors around us?  It's obvious to these well-seasoned ears that music is a powerful force that can (help to) move human emotions/spirits in directions (unity?) even THEY never thought they could achieve!

     Most players (of music, anyway) understand that truly good music doesn't come to realization when it's contrived... that does nothing to disparage the non-improvisational player, because "written down" doesn't (always) imply that it's without spirit.  Even the most structured music can spur us reg'lar folks to take actions we thought we'd never try, because it rides the waves of spirit that move from star to star... from planet-to-planet... moment-to-moment.

     Of course, those among us who DO improvise are often excited when a particular composition seems to take on a life of it's own.  The "drawback" for those who do (only) improvised music(s) is that not ALL the pieces DO ride the wave... I mean, it's GREAT when it does - but, often, it just doesn't GET THERE.  is that any reason to stop?  

     Something that is EVER more important for artists, musicians & performers everywhere in these perilous times of "yuppies", "preppies" & other flavors of political idiocy is to KEEP HOLD of the unity of spirit that resists the temptation to "give in"!  Spiritual revolutions don't come about because people "plan" them... they happen when that little "spark" of the moment your playing (was part of) takes hold in the listener (or watcher).  In that sense, fire is a cleanser that not even the filthiest politician can escape.  When the "people" catch the "fire", it spreads so rapidly that no amount of spin can stop it.  Like it or not, we (ALL) are involved in a battle between two (or more) forces... for lack of better terminology, we'll call them "good" (the spirit of the people) & "evil" (the spirit of the politician, born and bred into a state of mind that says it's OK to lie... cheat... steal).  Like it or not, these politicians/preachers are artists, too... actors of the highest caliber, able to twist & bend the most significant (or insignificant) truth into (what seems to many) an "inspiration"... hell, tha's what "SPIN" actually IS - the ability to pervert truth to the point where others will lay down their life's blood for some idiotic notion that inflamed the masses.  

     SO - what am I saying?  Get DOWN, players... get DEEP into whatever kind of music/art you do... find the SPARK again!  USE your talents to fan the flame(s) that bring purity to the soul!  & asking that you LIVE (at least in the shadow of) the spirit that flows through the universe... so you can help the folks out there to see (through your talents) that there IS hope!  I know (from many years of playing) that it's often easy to feel like your talents are unappreciated... unrecognized... sorta' wasted.  I also know how easy it is to fall into the various "traps" this kind of agony can bring on... booze, uppers/downers, etc... 'coz I've DONE 'em (nearly) all!  Even if only ONE soul catches the "fire" your music can inspire though... even if you NEVER know what kind of a blaze you started... THAT makes it "worth it"!  So, continue your quests... it is your art... your interpretation of the "flame"... your spirit; that will (help to) bring on the (coming) INFERNO that exposes the lies!  Just THINK about it!     

Till next time....

Rotcod Zzaj

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