I have to leave in an hour and a half and I haven’t started getting ready. This will be a short edition of Wise Madness. My apologies to Gen and Tomoko who deserve more words.
Yesterday was my birthday. For the first time in five years, I celebrated it my favorite way of celebrating, going out with one friend that I love to do something I love. For ages I had at least one friend I’d do that with. Some years I’d have multiple friends and would celebrate more than once. That happened this year. On Friday Carey and I went to see Come From Away and last night Gen and I went to see Tomoko’s Post Bop Gypsies.
There always seems to be transportation issues for one of us when I see Gen. Last night it was me. I get to the D train and it just sat there. Finally, there was an announcement that there was a stalled train one stop ahead of me.
I had to decided where I wanted my birthday dinner. I was looking in the village near where we were seeing Tomoko but the only restaurant I love there is Pomme Frites. They have poutine but it’s not a nice place to sit down and enjoy the company of a friend. It’s a quick bite place. Then it hit me that it didn’t have to be in that neighborhood. I met Gen at Penn Station where her train comes in and that’s not far from Hill Country Barbecue Market, in the running for my favorite restaurant. We sat downstairs, which is less convenient, but better for conversation. This was Gen’s first time there. I had moist brisket, ribs, corn pudding, and cornbread. I’m not sure if it is possible but I think Hill Country got even better. The brisket was as tender as the pudding. Barbecue is my favorite cuisine. I have an inner redneck.
Then we went to The Bar Next Door. It is not next door to Hill Country. It’s on MacDougal street, its name is The Bar Next Door. It’s an intimate venue under an Italian restaurant. I considered eating there but they serve foo-foo pizza, I don’t want my comfort food taking on airs. The place had a great ambience, it felt like speak easy and like someplace Peter Gunn would hang out. As a music venue it had no airs, it was elegant but there was no stage; the band set up by a table. Gen was dressed appropriately, Peter Gunn would have happily sat with her. I was wearing linen because it’s my birthday and I want to be comfy. As I always look better next to a beautiful woman I looked great.
I met Tomoko when she played with the band that had yet to become RUNA. She as RUNA’s original fiddler. If you have an Irish band and need a fiddler find yourself a super talented Japanese immigrant who studied jazz at Berklee. Tomoko has had many projects and I have loved each and every one of them. Post Bop Gypsies is a bit ambiguous, the music is more Be Bop than Gypsy Jazz. They did covers of Diz and Bird. When you cover jazz, tunes performed by horn players with a string band, stand-up bass, violin, and guitar, it becomes a different song. I don’t think Tomoko is capable of not being creative. She owns anything she plays, not just her own compositions. Since I met her when she played in an Irish Folk band she did a cover of Nick Drake for my birthday. Sometimes there are advantages to being me. I know the best people.
Damn, I have to wrap this up. Here are the things that must be clear. Tomoko and Gen have been touched by the divine spark. That is the most important thing to me. I don’t care how great a technical musician you are or what your voice is like, if you don’t have the fire of Audela within you I will not rave about your music. I don’t care how kind or smart you are, if you don’t shine by your own light, you won’t be a friend I want to spend my birthday with.
That was supposed to be the core of the entry; It was not inspired by people that have the light, but someone that doesn’t. I wish the world saw art and people the way I do.
On the way home, I twenty something minute wait for the D train. I didn’t let that ruin my night. Now to make a quick breakfast and then I’m off to therapy.
Wise Madness 