LFG and Herbie Hancock

I’m a proud papa every day. This morning I’m even prouder…still floating on the joy of last night’s elementary school music recital. God reminds me of what remains good and right with the world when I see thriving children. There is a light inside of me…I’m sure not unlike most parents…the glows uniquely when fueled by my child. And it was burning wide ass open last night.

Y’all might remember last year’s recital…the third graders play the Recorder and I fully expected the recital to be fun but appropriately grounded in Rootie Tootie Taxi and Twinkle Twinkle. I was blown away last year by these little third graders playing The Girl from Ipanema and Tick Tock by the Vaughn Brothers. I loved elementary school chorus and music but our teachers weren’t nearly as creative and diverse with our song options. 

The gift that LFG and her peers have is a teacher who is unequivocally living his calling and leveraging his gift. Man...when you can land on that sweet spot during life’s journey—you’ve got it made.

So what does daddy swathe in for the soiree? I needed to rig up for the evening before my morning commute to the office…a driver and a five iron away for Mickelson or Tiger…a driver….utility wedge out of the woods after taking a penalty for moving my ball and getting caught…a sand wedge out of the trap on the opposite side of the fairway…a three wood…a utility wedge out of the woods adjacent to the green…a three iron to run it up on the green…style points be damned…three putt and I’m at the office. (This shot's for the ladies)

Easy enough…cream linen trews courtesy of Ralph…oldie but goodie Flusser 3/2 cotton-linen-silk…open patch peak lapelled…fuzzy diced sportcoat…Belgians and a powder blue table cloth from Paul Stuart.

By the way, I’ll do an update on my office relocation sometime soon. Gonna re-hang about a zillion caricatures tomorrow.

I was relegated to the back row for LFG’s school play so I made sure to get a front row seat for the concert. I even saved a seat for LFG’s mama. But LFG and I had enough time to grab some ice cream before the concert...ice cream settles nerves. Shut up.

Now keep in mind a few things. First, it’s my daughter so every squeaky honk and shrill report that emanates from this little Benny Goodman sounds perfect to me. Also, we ain’t playing Recorders this year. These instruments are a bit harder to play so you’ll understand when I say that the songs were a bit…shall we say…unique. Yes, that’s it—unique.

So what songs did they perform? I couldn’t tell you if my life depended on it…until that last selection. Just as amusing and entertaining as The Girl from Ipanema was last year…Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock. 

In all fairness and transparency let me say that Mr. G.’s accompaniment on his electric piano was crucial. His melodious complement was a constant unguent for the plethora of bad notes and squawks. Errant notes and squawks that made it all the more entertaining…you’ve heard me say before that there’s beauty in the flaws.

One of the highlights of the concert was this superb saxophone player…another music teacher in the school system and a professional jazz musician as well. The kids were in awe of her participation and it set a superb example for what can be accomplished through hard work and talent. A group of fifth grade standouts were selected to perform solos. I’m sure that a couple of these cats are still jazzed this morning from their time in the spotlight.

So enjoy some Watermelon Man from the Master…Mr. Hancock. There is a longer version fronting Miles Davis on YouTube that’s pretty cool. I’ve got a Miles Davis—Brooks Brethren post coming soon.

Onward…blissfully…ADG