In a time when racial and class divisions erupt into violence and our very existence as a species is threatened by nuclear warfare and climate change, music is a healing balm that can unite us. The English author William Congrave wrote in his play The Mourning Bride, “Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast. To soften Rocks, or bend a Knotted Oak.”
Not all music possesses this power, but people who disagree about everything else can agree on the beauty of certain musical frequencies and vibrations. That’s why some who hate Black people love Charley Pride, a Black country singer/guitarist. Babies and small children are especially sensitive to the sound of music. I remember babysitting my nephew and a neighbor’s son when they were about 3 years old and squabbling over toys. I put them on “time out” in opposite corners of the family room and told them to listen to Yusef Lateef’s “The Golden Flute.” Amazingly, after a couple minutes of hearing Ancestor Yusef’s spiritual, exquisite music, they got up from their little chairs, hugged each other and started chanting “Yusef, Yusef, Yusef…” then began sharing the toys and playing.
I love creating soulful, relaxing, one love music because we desperately need more love. Like many artists, I used the isolation time during this pandemic to express my emotions. Expect my new “feel-good” album to drop before the end of 2020. In the meantime, I’m sharing my soulful, spiritual, smooth jazz love song “I Feel You.”
Peace and One Love…
Aria
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