I watched a 60 Minute segment on Wynton Marsalis and his Lincoln Center Orchestra. Led by Marsalis, they go around the world touring, playing to appreciative crowds, mingling, and having fun with people of different cultures, and societies, all the while spreading the joy of music to ecstatic men, women and children. In the segment, they took a trip to Cuba, and had a wonderful time there with the people exchanging dance, musical ideas of playing, and inspiring young Cuban children to learn how to play an instrument. I watched it thinking exactly what Mr. Marsalis later spoke about in a big way. We need the arts. Not just music, but all of the arts to be fruitful. Music, Art, Literature, Plays, all have an important role. And that role is to be the bridge for people to come together.
The difference between people is so insignificant, but hyped up to be insurmountable by the people who want to keep us divided, but it's not. The differences are sometimes language, and geography, and sometimes that's it. People love, have happiness, and sadness, want good things for their families, and most just want their own piece of the world that they can call home. When we have things like The Arts we can see this aspect of people, and we can appreciate them because we can see that they are us, and that they have beauty and warmth just as we believe we have. We become intrigued, and have genuine feelings for a collective people because we have seen just what incredible things have been created by their joy, pain, or passion. It's those feelings that we can all relate to, and therefore embrace other cultures, and seek out with genuine interest people who are different, and not be afraid of them because of differences, but actually feel close to them. That's what the arts does for unity.
The Art that I am happy to be a part of is music, and I couldn't be more satisfied to love and be able to give something of myself such as this. Whatever the language, whatever the background, whatever the economic situation of people, music brings people together in ways that governments could never do in a million years. I feel as though us musicians are in a unique position to be ambassadors of people. To spread joy, and connectedness to other people, and to let them know that we are all the same. They can relate to my pain, or be elated by my happiness, because they realize that they are not alone in these feelings. The true high calling of music is to be the unspoken bridge of the souls of people everywhere. Using patterns of sound to connect and bring people together, we can really change the world, and perceptions, making people receptive to one another, and the idea that we truly are together in the universe. It sounds highbrow but it is what I truly believe about music and the arts in general, and its power.
It was fantastic to see in the segment people of different cultures laughing together, playing music together, and children being interested in playing music because of the beauty and power. I can't say enough about how when children play music, dance, draw, or are interested in any of the arts their world opens up, and they become more rounded, and open to the beauty of others. It is the arts that does that, and these children grow up to realize that everyone has potential, and can be something special no matter who they are or where they are from given the chance. Even in the worst conditions such as Havana, the people love music, and the arts, and it is a way of life to emote, and feel free.
That is why I love different types of music, and am interested in different cultures so much, and try to share so much of what I love about music. It is a tremendous passion of mine to spread joy, and be a bridge where someone can perhaps say "I like this, and I think I'll check out more on my own." That's where the music may lead to art and literature that is related, and perhaps, just perhaps get people to talk with someone who has a common interest, and people become friends based upon that. And the world just might become a smaller place, and friendlier place all because of ambassadors building bridges like Mr. Marsalis. Though I am not traveling over the world like he is, I am doing my best to be along with other musicians who may read this, an ambassador also, and build my particular bridge to people in my particular corner of the universe.
Please everyone. Share the arts. We need it to come together.
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