“The arts are just a way of living, and however one lives, one can, without
knowing, prepare for it; in everything real one is closer to it…”

"Our March For Musical Progress"

Here we are … March 2003. Hard to believe? Yeah … I know. But look at what we have to show for it. March brought us many important events that have led to the entertainment industry of today.

For example: King Kong premiered on the silver screen in New York in 1933. What a show that must have been! The Star Spangled Banner was officially adopted as both the U.S. National Anthem March 3rd of 1931 and a challenge to vocalists everywhere. Albert Einstein was born. Two Beatles were wed in this month, the first movie ever shown to an audience was in Paris March 22nd 1895, and the USA bought Alaska from Russia in 1867. Not bad huh? Did I mention Alexander Graham Bell won a patent for the telephone on the 7th, placed a local call on the 10th, then eight years later called from Boston to New York? How important is that?!? Plus…RCA first produced color television on March 27th 1954. What a remarkable month for entertainment history.

Each year that passes brings about some form of music history as well. Just as hip-hugger bell-bottom pants and platform shoes were cool in the '70s, they're cool again in the new millennium- mostly due to the music world. Constantly changing what is, to morph with what always was. Jazz then, is Jazz now…it's just changed its' wardrobe a bit. Technology has given us better ways to capture music than we ever dreamed of. But then again, listen to Nat King Cole's voice on those old records and it sounds as warm and rich as it would have, had he recorded it today. Why is that?

It is said that you can't re-invent the wheel, but…you can make it better. That old valve-type classic mic that hung in front of Nat, Frank, and Ella would bring big money today. It's a sound that has been somewhat lost in the digital playrooms of today's recording studios. There's a sort of nostalgia happening among musicians and singers; inspired by their past, confronted with their future. When Billie bent a note, and Charlie bit a reed… they had no idea that in this space in time, we would be looking back on them-- still trying to figure out how they did it, so many years ago.

Whether it's electronics or bionics, one thing is clear: "Innovation" children, Innovation. People will keep trying to make something better than it already is, and music… remains constant. Music doesn't change the future… it helps to form the future. What would a movie be without the music? What would an historical re-enactment be without the music? Even weddings and funerals must have music. We remember the past through music and we'll build the future much the same way. Ask anyone where they were the exact moment they first heard The Flamingo's singing "I Only Have Eyes For You" and chances are they remember, exactly... though we probably can't discuss it here. The songs of the past are part of our emotional architecture, and the songs of the future will reflect where we've been. And like history, music repeats itself. Will you be listening?



*JT*



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© March 2003 Smooth Notes and News