[Applause] hey how y’all doing tonight I graduated
hey how y’all doing tonight I graduated
hey how y’all doing tonight I graduated some high school here ten years ago try
some high school here ten years ago try
some high school here ten years ago try to remember the last time I was on this
to remember the last time I was on this
to remember the last time I was on this stage and truthfully I think it was
stage and truthfully I think it was
stage and truthfully I think it was right when River would have started
right when River would have started
right when River would have started doing their morning announcements live
doing their morning announcements live
doing their morning announcements live on TV made my prankster friend Leslie
on TV made my prankster friend Leslie
on TV made my prankster friend Leslie convinced him to let us guest hosts I’m
convinced him to let us guest hosts I’m
convinced him to let us guest hosts I’m here to play some music this is a
here to play some music this is a
here to play some music this is a bedtime so I thought I talk a little bit
bedtime so I thought I talk a little bit
bedtime so I thought I talk a little bit about music and I wanted to point out a
about music and I wanted to point out a
about music and I wanted to point out a few things I’ve noticed recently I often
few things I’ve noticed recently I often
few things I’ve noticed recently I often invite friends over and say I have a
invite friends over and say I have a
invite friends over and say I have a listening party put on a record put our
listening party put on a record put our
listening party put on a record put our phones up and just listen to music and
phones up and just listen to music and
phones up and just listen to music and most the time the response I get is well
most the time the response I get is well
most the time the response I get is well what are we gonna do all the records on
what are we gonna do all the records on
what are we gonna do all the records on and it started there Kurt arethat – a
and it started there Kurt arethat – a
and it started there Kurt arethat – a lot of people listening to music because
lot of people listening to music because
lot of people listening to music because there isn’t a visual component isn’t the
there isn’t a visual component isn’t the
there isn’t a visual component isn’t the activity anymore and I’ll talk further
activity anymore and I’ll talk further
activity anymore and I’ll talk further with these people and I kind of realized
with these people and I kind of realized
with these people and I kind of realized that for a lot of people listening to
that for a lot of people listening to
that for a lot of people listening to music is really only a device people use
music is really only a device people use
music is really only a device people use so they’re not bored on the way
so they’re not bored on the way
so they’re not bored on the way somewhere a way to be distracted from
somewhere a way to be distracted from
somewhere a way to be distracted from being alone with themselves and this is
being alone with themselves and this is
being alone with themselves and this is kind of sad to me because to me music
kind of sad to me because to me music
kind of sad to me because to me music and paying attention to music has been
and paying attention to music has been
and paying attention to music has been the most enriching thing in my life and
the most enriching thing in my life and
the most enriching thing in my life and even if you don’t play music
even if you don’t play music
even if you don’t play music doors too so I wanted to express to you
doors too so I wanted to express to you
doors too so I wanted to express to you how special it is to me why is that way
how special it is to me why is that way
how special it is to me why is that way and how it can hopefully enrich your
and how it can hopefully enrich your
and how it can hopefully enrich your life too and I think the first thing
life too and I think the first thing
life too and I think the first thing music brought to my life was a beauty
music brought to my life was a beauty
music brought to my life was a beauty there’s a great drummer named Mark
there’s a great drummer named Mark
there’s a great drummer named Mark Blakely who said music washes away the
Blakely who said music washes away the
Blakely who said music washes away the dust of everyday life and I I’ve always
dust of everyday life and I I’ve always
dust of everyday life and I I’ve always felt like once I got it touched into
felt like once I got it touched into
felt like once I got it touched into music I felt that music had elevated my
music I felt that music had elevated my
music I felt that music had elevated my life somewhere beyond the ordinary and
life somewhere beyond the ordinary and
life somewhere beyond the ordinary and there was a great philosopher forgetting
there was a great philosopher forgetting
there was a great philosopher forgetting his name but he said and I’m
his name but he said and I’m
his name but he said and I’m paraphrasing that music is basically
paraphrasing that music is basically
paraphrasing that music is basically proof that life is not a mistake and I
proof that life is not a mistake and I
proof that life is not a mistake and I kind of agreed but before I begin I want
kind of agreed but before I begin I want
kind of agreed but before I begin I want to play something that shows shows you
to play something that shows shows you
to play something that shows shows you the beauty music brings to me before I
the beauty music brings to me before I
the beauty music brings to me before I begin how many of you like jazz I can’t
begin how many of you like jazz I can’t
begin how many of you like jazz I can’t say anything seriously
but often when I say that I don’t get
but often when I say that I don’t get much response I’ve realized a lot of
much response I’ve realized a lot of
much response I’ve realized a lot of people don’t like jazz because they say
people don’t like jazz because they say
people don’t like jazz because they say they like jazz because they associate it
they like jazz because they associate it
they like jazz because they associate it with something else like the dentist
with something else like the dentist
with something else like the dentist officers their grandparents but they
officers their grandparents but they
officers their grandparents but they haven’t seen it in a cool environment so
haven’t seen it in a cool environment so
haven’t seen it in a cool environment so I always try to encourage people not to
I always try to encourage people not to
I always try to encourage people not to think of it as Chad’s but just think of
think of it as Chad’s but just think of
think of it as Chad’s but just think of it as music there’s a great the great
it as music there’s a great the great
it as music there’s a great the great Duke Ellington said that there are only
Duke Ellington said that there are only
Duke Ellington said that there are only two kinds of music good and bad so when
two kinds of music good and bad so when
two kinds of music good and bad so when I play if you don’t like jazz
I play if you don’t like jazz
I play if you don’t like jazz just decide if it’s good or bad don’t
just decide if it’s good or bad don’t
just decide if it’s good or bad don’t think you don’t like your presents chats
think you don’t like your presents chats
think you don’t like your presents chats or you’d like it because it is jazz two
or you’d like it because it is jazz two
or you’d like it because it is jazz two means what it’s called jazz music is
means what it’s called jazz music is
means what it’s called jazz music is really special because what it really is
really special because what it really is
really special because what it really is is a new feeling being watched over your
is a new feeling being watched over your
is a new feeling being watched over your body every second the music changes
body every second the music changes
body every second the music changes often and it’s I think that’s what’s
often and it’s I think that’s what’s
often and it’s I think that’s what’s really special in it so I thought I’d
really special in it so I thought I’d
really special in it so I thought I’d begin and play a piece five to me one of
begin and play a piece five to me one of
begin and play a piece five to me one of the most beautiful sounding gannets ever
the most beautiful sounding gannets ever
the most beautiful sounding gannets ever the great Eric garner this is called gas
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] and so for one music problem Beauty to
and so for one music problem Beauty to
and so for one music problem Beauty to my life and then for two music has
my life and then for two music has
my life and then for two music has brought so many good people in my life
brought so many good people in my life
brought so many good people in my life not to mention the people I mean from
not to mention the people I mean from
not to mention the people I mean from being in school or being engaged and
being in school or being engaged and
being in school or being engaged and people that people want to introduce me
people that people want to introduce me
people that people want to introduce me to it’s and it’s introduced me to a lot
to it’s and it’s introduced me to a lot
to it’s and it’s introduced me to a lot of mentors who have taught me so much
of mentors who have taught me so much
of mentors who have taught me so much not just about music but they’ve taught
not just about music but they’ve taught
not just about music but they’ve taught me that while music can elevate blacks
me that while music can elevate blacks
me that while music can elevate blacks above the ordinary music really is less
above the ordinary music really is less
above the ordinary music really is less because really everything they’ve taught
because really everything they’ve taught
because really everything they’ve taught me about music is really about life and
me about music is really about life and
me about music is really about life and vice versa
vice versa
vice versa I’ve been really lucky to meet some of
I’ve been really lucky to meet some of
I’ve been really lucky to meet some of the and learn from some of the greatest
the and learn from some of the greatest
the and learn from some of the greatest jazz musicians and writers of all time
jazz musicians and writers of all time
jazz musicians and writers of all time and they’ve all taught me different
and they’ve all taught me different
and they’ve all taught me different things that have helped my music and my
things that have helped my music and my
things that have helped my music and my life for example the great Les McKeown
life for example the great Les McKeown
life for example the great Les McKeown taught me about living good and
taught me about living good and
taught me about living good and meaningful when we first met you asked
meaningful when we first met you asked
meaningful when we first met you asked me how often do you practice and I said
me how often do you practice and I said
me how often do you practice and I said about 6 or 7 hours a day and he said
about 6 or 7 hours a day and he said
about 6 or 7 hours a day and he said practice less what you’re not expecting
practice less what you’re not expecting
practice less what you’re not expecting your favorite piano player to tell you
your favorite piano player to tell you
your favorite piano player to tell you to practice and less and I said why he
to practice and less and I said why he
to practice and less and I said why he says you need to go out and live you
says you need to go out and live you
says you need to go out and live you need to be out doing the things that
need to be out doing the things that
need to be out doing the things that make you want to come back to the piano
make you want to come back to the piano
make you want to come back to the piano and have something that’s thing about it
and have something that’s thing about it
and have something that’s thing about it that was one of my blowin thing then the
that was one of my blowin thing then the
that was one of my blowin thing then the great pianist Ramsey Lewis gave me the
great pianist Ramsey Lewis gave me the
great pianist Ramsey Lewis gave me the confidence to be me I was nervous before
confidence to be me I was nervous before
confidence to be me I was nervous before a gig once and I asked him if he ever
a gig once and I asked him if he ever
a gig once and I asked him if he ever gets nervous and he said that no I only
gets nervous and he said that no I only
gets nervous and he said that no I only knew that I could do what I could do the
knew that I could do what I could do the
knew that I could do what I could do the best that I could do it so I did it you
best that I could do it so I did it you
best that I could do it so I did it you know
know
know okay
okay
okay and that worked the great mama Jamal one
and that worked the great mama Jamal one
and that worked the great mama Jamal one time I emailed him when I was having
time I emailed him when I was having
time I emailed him when I was having issues with the girlfriend and he wrote
issues with the girlfriend and he wrote
issues with the girlfriend and he wrote me back and he said you need to decide
me back and he said you need to decide
me back and he said you need to decide if she’s a muse or a distraction and we
if she’s a muse or a distraction and we
if she’s a muse or a distraction and we broke up the next day but then it got me
broke up the next day but then it got me
broke up the next day but then it got me thinking what other kind of distractions
thinking what other kind of distractions
thinking what other kind of distractions are there in my life and the great
are there in my life and the great
are there in my life and the great pianist Don Friedman taught me about
pianist Don Friedman taught me about
pianist Don Friedman taught me about fulfillment he was 80 80 something when
fulfillment he was 80 80 something when
fulfillment he was 80 80 something when he died and I thought this if every
he died and I thought this if every
he died and I thought this if every Thursday about 2:00 in the afternoon
Thursday about 2:00 in the afternoon
Thursday about 2:00 in the afternoon I’d say Don what do you want to do say
I’d say Don what do you want to do say
I’d say Don what do you want to do say let’s go get a stack of pancakes so I
let’s go get a stack of pancakes so I
let’s go get a stack of pancakes so I realized that for this guy doing what
realized that for this guy doing what
realized that for this guy doing what you love for him doing exactly what he
you love for him doing exactly what he
you love for him doing exactly what he loved his brought him fulfillment he
loved his brought him fulfillment he
loved his brought him fulfillment he wasn’t the richest man on the planet but
wasn’t the richest man on the planet but
wasn’t the richest man on the planet but he was about far the happiest person
he was about far the happiest person
he was about far the happiest person I’ve ever met and that made a big
I’ve ever met and that made a big
I’ve ever met and that made a big impression on me then the great writer
impression on me then the great writer
impression on me then the great writer Nat Hentoff really impressed on me how
Nat Hentoff really impressed on me how
Nat Hentoff really impressed on me how dedicated and how committed you have to
dedicated and how committed you have to
dedicated and how committed you have to be to really do this he would tell me
be to really do this he would tell me
be to really do this he would tell me about Charles Mingus the great bass
about Charles Mingus the great bass
about Charles Mingus the great bass player who who was dying from ALS
player who who was dying from ALS
player who who was dying from ALS couldn’t he couldn’t even move his hands
couldn’t he couldn’t even move his hands
couldn’t he couldn’t even move his hands but he would call him that late at night
but he would call him that late at night
but he would call him that late at night and sing to him the melodies that he had
and sing to him the melodies that he had
and sing to him the melodies that he had just written and he was so dedicated he
just written and he was so dedicated he
just written and he was so dedicated he was doing that until weeks before he
was doing that until weeks before he
was doing that until weeks before he passed away and to me I think these
passed away and to me I think these
passed away and to me I think these mental relationships have really you
mental relationships have really you
mental relationships have really you know they’re huge experiences in my life
know they’re huge experiences in my life
know they’re huge experiences in my life and I think I could sum all that with a
and I think I could sum all that with a
and I think I could sum all that with a little music basically less we can we
little music basically less we can we
little music basically less we can we all shall check out if you like any jam
all shall check out if you like any jam
all shall check out if you like any jam to music you’ll you’ll be a saint
to music you’ll you’ll be a saint
to music you’ll you’ll be a saint but less lived
but less lived
but less lived lives in LA and I was in New York at the
lives in LA and I was in New York at the
lives in LA and I was in New York at the time and I called him after all my gigs
time and I called him after all my gigs
time and I called him after all my gigs which was about 2:00 a.m. my time 11
which was about 2:00 a.m. my time 11
which was about 2:00 a.m. my time 11 p.m. his time and then we’d sit down on
p.m. his time and then we’d sit down on
p.m. his time and then we’d sit down on the phone I put the phone on speaker
the phone I put the phone on speaker
the phone I put the phone on speaker play piano and we write some songs
play piano and we write some songs
play piano and we write some songs together so one of them we decided to
together so one of them we decided to
together so one of them we decided to call the theme and I’ll play that for
call the theme and I’ll play that for
call the theme and I’ll play that for y’all now hope you enjoy feelin music
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
and the third thing that music has
and the third thing that music has really brought to my life has helped me
really brought to my life has helped me
really brought to my life has helped me find myself
find myself
find myself I think that once you find that initial
I think that once you find that initial
I think that once you find that initial beauty the music can bring to your life
beauty the music can bring to your life
beauty the music can bring to your life you are constantly seeking out more of
you are constantly seeking out more of
you are constantly seeking out more of it kind of crazy and for me that mixed
it kind of crazy and for me that mixed
it kind of crazy and for me that mixed with the lessons that I learned from my
with the lessons that I learned from my
with the lessons that I learned from my mentors I and and all the listening you
mentors I and and all the listening you
mentors I and and all the listening you do it kind of comes together in this
do it kind of comes together in this
do it kind of comes together in this little package that kind of tells you
little package that kind of tells you
little package that kind of tells you after a long time of searching and
after a long time of searching and
after a long time of searching and listening to yourself what you really
listening to yourself what you really
listening to yourself what you really want to play and what you don’t want to
want to play and what you don’t want to
want to play and what you don’t want to play and what you like to listen to why
play and what you like to listen to why
play and what you like to listen to why you don’t like to listen to what you
you don’t like to listen to what you
you don’t like to listen to what you don’t like to listen to why you like to
don’t like to listen to why you like to
don’t like to listen to why you like to listen to what you like to this to it so
listen to what you like to this to it so
listen to what you like to this to it so but for me I was living in New York for
but for me I was living in New York for
but for me I was living in New York for ten years after I went high school here
ten years after I went high school here
ten years after I went high school here I moved out there and that advice about
I moved out there and that advice about
I moved out there and that advice about Muser distraction started getting you
Muser distraction started getting you
Muser distraction started getting you know I started thinking about that so I
know I started thinking about that so I
know I started thinking about that so I was thinking on that for a long time and
was thinking on that for a long time and
was thinking on that for a long time and I started to realize that the excitement
I started to realize that the excitement
I started to realize that the excitement in New York was a distraction from how I
in New York was a distraction from how I
in New York was a distraction from how I really just wanted to come back to
really just wanted to come back to
really just wanted to come back to Atlanta so once I finally admitted that
Atlanta so once I finally admitted that
Atlanta so once I finally admitted that to myself and thankfully I had
to myself and thankfully I had
to myself and thankfully I had tell me that idea in the first place I
tell me that idea in the first place I
tell me that idea in the first place I said to myself I think I want to move
said to myself I think I want to move
said to myself I think I want to move back and I think that’s where I’ll close
back and I think that’s where I’ll close
back and I think that’s where I’ll close tonight because I once I admitted that
tonight because I once I admitted that
tonight because I once I admitted that to myself i sat down at the piano and
to myself i sat down at the piano and
to myself i sat down at the piano and the next time I play came out and so I
the next time I play came out and so I
the next time I play came out and so I think it’s musics really taught me to be
think it’s musics really taught me to be
think it’s musics really taught me to be true to myself and you know I know that
true to myself and you know I know that
true to myself and you know I know that you know I’m reading hard a lot of
you know I’m reading hard a lot of
you know I’m reading hard a lot of articles about country music stations
articles about country music stations
articles about country music stations around them the country cutting off
around them the country cutting off
around them the country cutting off their songs in the two-minute mark
their songs in the two-minute mark
their songs in the two-minute mark because they don’t think their listeners
because they don’t think their listeners
because they don’t think their listeners have that attention span anymore or
have that attention span anymore or
have that attention span anymore or times when I’ll say to a friend maybe
times when I’ll say to a friend maybe
times when I’ll say to a friend maybe you gotta listen to the song the best
you gotta listen to the song the best
you gotta listen to the song the best part comes in 12 minutes and 30 seconds
part comes in 12 minutes and 30 seconds
part comes in 12 minutes and 30 seconds in those they will just fast-forward it
in those they will just fast-forward it
in those they will just fast-forward it I said never the reason it’s so good is
I said never the reason it’s so good is
I said never the reason it’s so good is because you built it up to that 12
because you built it up to that 12
because you built it up to that 12 minute for me so I know that people are
minute for me so I know that people are
minute for me so I know that people are losing it like some people are losing a
losing it like some people are losing a
losing it like some people are losing a little attention span and I know I just
little attention span and I know I just
little attention span and I know I just want to encourage everyone to to listen
want to encourage everyone to to listen
want to encourage everyone to to listen to music and to pay attention to it and
to music and to pay attention to it and
to music and to pay attention to it and let it be the activity even though
let it be the activity even though
let it be the activity even though there’s not always a visual component to
there’s not always a visual component to
there’s not always a visual component to it because it’s deeper in it you give
it because it’s deeper in it you give
it because it’s deeper in it you give the more beautiful it becomes and the
the more beautiful it becomes and the
the more beautiful it becomes and the more you discover it it’s just an
more you discover it it’s just an
more you discover it it’s just an endless treasure trove of material so I
endless treasure trove of material so I
endless treasure trove of material so I thought I’d close with a song I wrote
thought I’d close with a song I wrote
thought I’d close with a song I wrote called coming home to you that was
called coming home to you that was
called coming home to you that was brought on by me admitting to myself I
brought on by me admitting to myself I
brought on by me admitting to myself I mean
mean
mean to come back to Atlanta so thanks for
to come back to Atlanta so thanks for
to come back to Atlanta so thanks for listening I hope you enjoy the song
listening I hope you enjoy the song
listening I hope you enjoy the song [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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