Sunday, March 18, 2007

One Christ, Many Traditions, Even in our Music

As an adult, I've spent the last 20 years of my life as one of "God's Frozen Chosen", meaning I'm one of those awful Presbyterians. Hopefully by now you are laughing with me.

I surrounded myself in church-sponsored music series over the weekend, one being Dave Cacere's jazz concert Friday night at Memorial Drive Presbyterian and the other one being at the opposite side of the spectrum, at the Organ Vespers hosted by the Bach Society at Christ the King Lutheran Church tonight.

Dave Cacere's jazz concert was wonderful. I'll try to talk more about the team of musicians that made up his quartet sometime in a future post. The whole band gave their utmost to the music, heart and soul. Being a lifetime musician myself, most recently a choir member and a backup alto to a local country gospel performer, I can tell you there's a huge difference in how one performs...either you put your whole body into your music and give from your soul, OR you can be a spectator at your own performance.

Dave Cacere gave it all, body and soul. Whether it was through his saxophone playing "Helen's Dilemma" an originally composed piece which describes his observation of a relationship between siblings; or, an impromptu vocal featuring the full range of his voice in "Darn That Dream", you felt the sincerity and emotion that goes with being a musician. I hope Dave felt drained after that concert, because that's what it feels like when you've given your all to a performance.

I was sorry to hear that this was Dave's last performance here in Houston, as he moved to New York about a week ago. It will be interesting to see what his future brings, and I'll certainly be looking for him as one of the up and coming jazz musicians currently on the scene.

I'll write more later about the Bach Society concert, and elaborate on the style of the church that goes with the performances. Have a great week! Terre

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