If The Original Jazz Cabbage works out, that group is going to sharpen my mind and transform me as drastically as you watched my appearance change in the last year or so.
I sat there smiling today at two 21 year olds and a 19 year old talking circles around me about theory and chord voicings as they accompanied me on some of the greatest songs America will ever produce.
I can write my ass off. I know melodies and words and chord changes come to me everyday. All I have to do is write them down. I am not ever going to be normal, and the idea of being normal terrifies me a bit, like Peter Pan forgetting how to fly.
But these kids. They are so smart. They are still green. They can get so much better by the time they reach my age. I am 20 years older than them and this is a wonderful little opportunity for all of us regardless of how long they ride my little musical train on these tracks of through the wilderness of destiny. This is not the Golden age. The future, their future kind of sucks. Their lives will hopefully be charming. But the world has seen better days.
Odds are they quit long playing everyday long before they reach 40, but the odds were that they’d never meet me, and my job is to light a fire in people that was always within them.
The rest is on them. Our paths together are temporary. Are days are numbered. Everything is fleeting. Even the stars.
Part of why I chose these old songs is absolutely escapism. No question about it. But the rule of time travel is that you have to return to your own.
Same goes for outer space kid.
These kids though. I could be their Dad. Daniel described me as a 40 year old that looked 28. That’s that voodoo again. When MLK was my age he had been dead for years.
I’ve had my time. I’ve written my songs. I have plenty more. But if I go up in a space ship tomorrow, I left you with more than enough stories and songs.
But these kids. I might not have the theory down yet. But I sort of know plenty of theory. I have theories. I also have a theory…that these songs are so much better than the songs hitting the Top 40 chart today.
…and if these kids and I can get it together, we’ll rob the Bourgeoisie world that is swallowing up our city like Pirates. Like Peter Pan. Like Robin Hood. Like Corsaires. Like Musketeers.
These songs are baaaaad man. I can pick em’. And they all mean something to me. Everyone of them.
Today was a straight up crazy day. But it started at 11 am playing jazz with some really smart kids. Kids who were what? Toddlers when we started The Staxx Brothers?
And ask Daniel Oliver. The songs he is learning to play that we wrote when he was maybe two years old like ‘Easy Rider’ are still FRESH.
That’s why I’m tough. You can spit in my eye. You can call me anything. And I know that our aim is true and this journey is still moving towards the light.
Come see me LIVE. One of these shows will be my last one. Maybe I have 100 more. But the odds are I will never play 1000 shows.
I can say I’m better than ever and I am going to get better. I have to…or I’m done.
I sing so my dreams will survive and at this very hour I am still alive. And tomorrow I’ll write another song and I go to sleep wondering what gift the universe has for me tomorrow.
That’s wild. But it’s true. But Jazz Cabbage is a chance to study and internalize the inspirations and dreams and startling aspirations of these singers and songwriters that changed the world a little bit.
Fly me to the moon. I’ll see you on the dark side.
☆ Post script: the fact that you read posts like this makes you pretty special. 689 words. Was it my voice or your own?
– Musician and writer Davin Michael Stedman has many ventures, such as the AMAZING blog, 100milesofmusic.com. Davin’s recent song has become a global earworm and Caribbean dancehall hit. Listen here on Reggaeville: DAVIN MICHAEL STEDMAN & ANTHONY RED ROSE – FREE YOUR MIND FEAT. SLY & ROBBIE WITH LENKY MARSDEN. The video is now available on Youtube: Tuff Gong Television. His single with British band Sherlock Soul is available here.
