dancing under moon on a rainy day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R42C6xhNvLI&feature=related

This is the Van Morrison performance we experienced at Jazz Fest. Notice Van solo on this harmonica (one of five instruments he played) with the effusive energy of an indomitable 25-year-old, and the joyful hard-living blues of a mortal 65-year-old rocker (how can a man be so ugly and so suave at the same time, he’s like a musical Bukowski); notice the misty moondance rain frame the painted yellow sun in the background; notice the black dapper suits and the gold microphone on a gold stand emblazoned with a gold “VM;” and oh yea, notice the damn good musicianship, the likes of which spanned jazz, blues, rock, reggae, Latin, Irish folk, and more. What you won’t notice is the wide weird range of fans, including the two toddlers next to me that ran around in circles and let it all seep in.

The Gospel Tent

by the way, it happend, beyond my wildest expectations. I heard Aaron Neville's voice sweetening the air from afar and I pushed in close to the Gospel tent until I witnessed him overseeing our festing congregation. The song was Amazing Grace but I've heard that song before and this was something else, this was a communal uplifting in harmony...this was Mr. Neville handing out wings to all of us, so that we can forever fly in a flock above the pain.

The echo of his last note lingered like a lover's tear that refuses to let go of the eye and slowly drips away.

"Whooooow...ahhhh...whoooow!!!" Just as a flock of birds turn in knowing unison, our shared silence turned into a primal uproar as five hundred pairs of hands reached out to whatever Aaron was giving. And yes, Aaron was reaching back.

When it was over, Two middle aged woman in front of me turned around with tears in their eyes, and I think we almost hugged. But instead we stared at each other. And as I write this now, I can still see their wet joyful eyes; a shared stare so strong that it goes on.