Remember Me

 

Returning to the story line. I went from Sao Paulo to the small town of Tatui and began teaching my 4-day Jazz Course to a new group of 50 people. As always, we were good friends after the first 20 minutes and had a fabulous first day of joyful music and dance. By lunchtime, many people’s interests, gifts, character and talents were revealed and I was so delighted to meet a drummer from Malawi, a pianist from Mozambique, a young Brazilian stand-up bass player, two tap dancers, two singers, a flautist and many more spirited participants eager to reveal their musical selves. 

 

Then yesterday, the 2^nd, I opened with this old call-and-response song from the Georgia Sea Islands repertoire and made this comment. 

 

 We are here by the grace of those who have come before. Of course, our parents and grandparents, but also those folks far and near, from times before us, whose lives and work ignited our own fires. We are indebted to them and the proper response is not only thanks, but to carry their work forward and strive to take it further than they could. And when we gather together like this, we should invite them into these sacred grounds and feel their presence and enjoy their company. This homage to the Ancestors is a practice as old as the hills and still part of the thinking in enlightened places —the entire continent of Africa, for example. Simply by singing and dancing these old—and new songs—we are inviting them to the party. And our inspiration to do this well is to attract their attention. If we are half-hearted or checking our phones during the dance, they are not interested. 

 

So let’s take a moment for you to remember  your own personal ancestors who brought you to this place and this life you’re leading. Now when we sing the song again, keep them in your mind and heart and feel their presence dancing with you. 

 

 And we did.